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94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006 HB2027
Introduced 2/14/2005, by Rep. Michael J. Madigan - Barbara Flynn Currie - Kevin Joyce SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: |
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Amends the Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the findings of the General Assembly.
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A BILL FOR
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HB2027 |
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LRB094 02651 DRJ 32652 b |
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| AN ACT concerning aging.
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| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, |
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| represented in the General Assembly:
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| Section 5. The Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act is |
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| amended by changing Section 5 as follows:
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| (320 ILCS 50/5)
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| Sec. 5. Findings. The
The General Assembly finds:
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| (1) Senior citizens identify pharmaceutical assistance as |
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| the single most
critical factor to their health, well-being, |
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| and continued independence.
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| (2) The State of Illinois currently operates 2 |
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| pharmaceutical assistance
programs that benefit seniors: (i) |
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| the program of pharmaceutical assistance
under
the Senior |
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| Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and |
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| Pharmaceutical
Assistance Act and (ii) the Aid to the Aged, |
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| Blind, or Disabled program under
the
Illinois Public Aid Code. |
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| The State has been given authority to establish a
third |
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| program, SeniorRx Care, through a federal Medicaid waiver.
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| (3) Each year, numerous pieces of legislation are filed |
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| seeking to
establish additional pharmaceutical assistance |
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| benefits for seniors or to make
changes to the existing |
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| programs.
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| (4) Establishment of a pharmaceutical assistance review |
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| committee will
ensure proper coordination of benefits, |
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| diminish the likelihood of duplicative
benefits, and ensure |
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| that the best interests of seniors are served.
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| (5) In addition to the State pharmaceutical assistance |
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| programs, several
private entities, such as drug manufacturers |
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| and pharmacies, also offer
prescription drug discount or |
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| coverage programs.
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| (6) Many seniors are unaware of the myriad of public and |
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| private programs
available to them.
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