§5A-3C-4 Creation of clearinghouse program.
§5A-3C-4. Creation of clearinghouse program.
(a) There is hereby created the state prescription drug assistance clearinghouse program. The brand pharmaceutical manufacturers shall create and implement a program to assist state residents who are low income or uninsured to gain access to prescription medications through existing private and public sector programs and prescription drug assistance programs offered by manufacturers, including discount and coverage programs. The brand pharmaceutical manufacturers shall use available computer software programs that access an eligible individual with the appropriate private or public programs relating to the individual's medically necessary drugs. The brand pharmaceutical manufacturers shall provide education to individuals and providers to promote the program and to expand enrollment and access to necessary medications for low-income or uninsured individuals qualifying for the programs. The participating brand pharmaceutical manufacturers shall be responsible for the cost of the establishment of the program, and be responsible for running the program, regardless of the date of transfer of the program to the state, for the period of time until a date no earlier than the thirtieth day of June, two thousand five, and ownership of the technology, website and other program features shall be transferred to the state on the same date. The secretary of the department of health and human resources and the director of the public employees insurance agency shall provide joint oversight over the establishment and construction of the program and program features for the period of time prior to the transfer of ownership to the state. The pharmaceutical council shall recommend the state agency to own, control and operate the program, technology and program features, and shall include such recommendation in its report on or before the first day of September, two thousand four, to the joint committee on government and finance, as provided for in section eight of this article. In addition, the pharmaceutical manufacturers shall report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on a monthly basis all activities related to the implementation of this program including the number of citizens serviced and the services provided.
(b) The participating brand pharmaceutical manufacturers shall contribute the funding for the promotion of the public relations program attendant to the establishment of the program. The participating brand pharmaceutical manufacturers shall be responsible for the cost of the establishment of the program and the cost of the ongoing program, regardless of the date of transfer of ownership of the program to the state, for the period of time until the thirty-first day of December, two thousand four.