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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Feldman

 

DATE TYPED:

02/13/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Prescription Drug Programs

 

SB

160a/SPAC

 

 

ANALYST:

Hayes

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$25.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

 

 SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

State Agency on Aging (AOA)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of SPAC Amendment

 

The Senate Public Affairs Committee strikes the word “physicians” on line 20 and replaces it with the term “health care givers” which broadens the consultation group.

           

     Synopsis of Original Bill

 

Senate Bill 160 appropriates $25.0 from the general fund to the State Agency on Aging for the purpose of developing prescription drug education and outreach programs to promote understanding, awareness and therapeutic consultation between patients, physicians and pharmacists.

   

    Significant Issues

 

Seniors and the disabled population have the highest out of pocket costs for prescription drugs and, typically, are steered by the marketing practices of drug manufacturers toward the costliest medications.  Coordinated educational efforts to assist these populations in choosing the regimen


most beneficial would save money and improve health status.  It is important that the physician and pharmacist work together to assist individuals in making the most appropriate choices.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $25.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The AOA does not need additional resources to carry out the provisions of SB 160.  The $25,000 is an increase to an existing program.

 

CMH/prr