CHAPTER 2

SB 393-FN-A – FINAL VERSION

2006 SESSION

06-3056

10/09

SENATE BILL 393-FN-A

AN ACT relative to the temporary provision of assistance to persons eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare services and making an appropriation therefor.

SPONSORS: Sen. Clegg, Dist 14; Sen. Larsen, Dist 15; Rep. O'Neil, Rock 15; Rep. Craig, Hills 9

COMMITTEE:

ANALYSIS

This bill authorizes the commissioner of health and human services to provide temporary assistance in the purchase of pharmaceuticals by persons eligible for services under both Medicaid and Medicare. The bill makes an appropriation for this purpose.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

06-3056

10/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six

AN ACT relative to the temporary provision of assistance to persons eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare services and making an appropriation therefor.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

2:1 Department of Health and Human Services; Supplemental Pharmacy Assistance.

I. The commissioner of health and human services shall provide supplemental assistance with the purchase of drugs and other pharmaceutical services, which shall be available to persons who are eligible for benefits under both Medicaid and Medicare. The supplemental pharmacy assistance shall be designed to provide temporary aid during the period of transition to the new pharmacy benefit under Part D of the federal Medicare program. Assistance shall be extended to persons who are unable to obtain necessary pharmaceutical services for which they are eligible under Medicare.

II. The commissioner, to the extent possible, shall seek reimbursement from the Medicare preferred drug plans and from Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federal program for the expenditures incurred in the provision of the supplemental pharmacy assistance. The department of health and human services may seek reimbursement from persons receiving assistance for the costs of the pharmaceutical services to the extent they otherwise would have had to pay if provided the benefit under Medicare. Any reimbursement received by the department shall be deposited in the general fund.

2:2 Appropriation; Supplemental Pharmacy Assistance. Up to the sum of $500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006 is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services, for the purpose of providing supplemental pharmacy assistance. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. If the commissioner determines additional funds are needed to provide the supplemental pharmacy assistance the commissioner, with the approval of the legislative fiscal committee, may expend other funds appropriated to the department for this purpose.

2:3 Repeal. Section 1 of this act, relative to the supplemental pharmacy assistance, is repealed.

2:4 Effective Date.

I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect March 1, 2006.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved January 10, 2006

Effective: I. Section 3 shall take effect March 1, 2006

II. Remainder shall take effect January 10, 2006