32.1-23.1 - Alternative delivery of certain information; Commissioners to develop single application form for pharmaceutical assistance programs and pharmaceutical discount purchasing cards; certain a
§ 32.1-23.1. Alternative delivery of certain information; Commissioners todevelop single application form for pharmaceutical assistance programs andpharmaceutical discount purchasing cards; certain analysis of access to ThePharmacy Connection program.
A. The Commissioner shall create links from the Virginia Department ofHealth's website to the Virginia Department for the Aging's website and itsaffiliated sites pertaining to pharmaceutical assistance programs andpharmaceutical discount purchasing cards. The Commissioner of the Departmentfor the Aging shall cooperate with the Commissioner of Health by ensuringthat such information is available on the Department for the Aging's website.
B. The Commissioner shall ensure that all clinical sites administered bylocal health departments are provided with adequate information concerningthe services of the Virginia Department for the Aging, including, but notlimited to, its toll-free telephone number and its website information onpharmaceutical assistance programs and pharmaceutical discount purchasingcards.
C. The Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of the Department for theAging shall coordinate the dissemination of information to the publicregarding any pharmaceutical discount purchasing card programs whilemaintaining a neutral posture regarding such programs.
In addition, with such funds as may be made available, the Commissioner ofHealth and the Commissioner of the Department for the Aging shall disseminateinformation to the public concerning recent congressional actions relating topharmaceutical benefits to be provided under the Medicare program and howsuch benefits may help senior citizens with the costs of pharmaceuticalbenefits.
D. The Commissioner shall establish a toll-free telephone number, to beadministered by the Virginia Department of Health, which shall providerecorded information concerning services available from the Department forthe Aging, the Virginia Area Agencies on Aging, and other appropriateorganizations for senior citizens.
E. The Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of the Department for theAging shall develop a strategy, in coordination with the Virginia AreaAgencies on Aging and other private and nonprofit organizations, fordisseminating information to the public concerning the availability ofpharmaceutical assistance programs and for training senior citizen volunteersto assist in completing applications for pharmaceutical assistance programsand pharmaceutical discount purchasing cards.
F. In addition to the responsibilities set forth in subsections A through E,the Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner of the Department for theAging shall encourage pharmaceutical manufacturers to include applicationforms for pharmaceutical discount purchasing card programs on theirrespective websites in a format capable of being downloaded and printed byconsumers. When practicable, the website maintained by the Department for theAging shall include direct links to such forms. Further, the Commissioner ofHealth and the Commissioner of the Department for the Aging shall report tothe Governor and General Assembly by October 30, 2004, on the feasibility ofdeveloping a single application form for Virginians to use to seekeligibility for the nearly 50 pharmaceutical assistance programs andpharmaceutical discount purchasing cards.
In determining feasibility, the Commissioners shall obtain copies of theapplication forms used by such pharmaceutical assistance programs andpharmaceutical discount purchasing cards in Virginia, compile a list of thevarious information required to complete such application forms, identifycommon elements, and analyze the forms for readability and simplicity. Uponcompletion of this analysis, the Commissioners shall assess the feasibilityof designing a single, concise application form that is logically formatted,written in clear and easily comprehensible language, and covers any and alldata that may be required to obtain eligibility for any such pharmaceuticalassistance program or pharmaceutical discount purchasing card.
G. In order to maximize the benefits of the new Medicare pharmaceuticaldiscount card program for Virginia's senior citizens, the Commissioner ofHealth shall annually for two years commencing on July 1, 2005, (i) analyzeaccess to The Pharmacy Connection program vis-a-vis the Medicarepharmaceutical discount card program, the $600 transitional coverage providedunder federal law, and pharmaceutical companies' offers of "wrap-around"coverage for low-income seniors; and (ii) recommend, to the Virginia HealthCare Foundation, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and theGovernor, appropriate localities for expansion of access to The PharmacyConnection program in Virginia, particularly in areas having highconcentrations of low-income seniors. The goal of the Commissioner's analysisshall be to facilitate statewide implementation of The Pharmacy Connectionprogram. The Commissioner shall complete this analysis by October 31 of eachyear and shall immediately request an estimate of the costs of therecommended expansion of such access from the Virginia Health Care Foundationto be forwarded to the Secretary and the Governor, for inclusion in theappropriation act, in so far as possible and appropriate to promote thehealth and safety of Virginia's senior citizens.
H. To assist them in completing the responsibilities set forth in subsectionsE, F, and G, the Commissioners may appoint an advisory task force ofstakeholders.
(2003, cc. 661, 674; 2004, cc. 73, 318; 2005, c. 715.)