93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
SB2608


 
Introduced 2/4/2004, by Barack Obama
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













320 ILCS 50/20









    Amends the Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act.  Requires the Senior Health
Assistance Program Clearinghouse, upon the request of an Illinois senior
citizen, to
provide information concerning the purchase of prescription drugs from sources
outside
Illinois.  Requires the Governor to request the United States Department of
Health and
Human Services to license the Senior Health Assistance Program to act as an
agent for
Illinois senior citizens in purchasing prescription drugs from sources outside
Illinois.
Effective July 1, 2004.



















LRB093 20853 DRJ 46787 b




















FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 














SB2608

LRB093 20853 DRJ 46787 b









1
    AN ACT in relation to 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 20 as follows:


 
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    (320 ILCS 50/20)

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    Sec. 20. Senior Health Assistance Program.


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    (a) The Senior Health Assistance Program is created within 
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the
Department on Aging, to become operational within 90 days 
10
after the effective
date of this Act. The Senior Health 
11
Assistance Program shall provide outreach
and education to 
12
senior citizens on available prescription drug coverage and

13
discount programs.


14
    (b) The Senior Health Assistance Program shall operate a

15
Clearinghouse for all information regarding prescription drug 
16
coverage programs
available to senior citizens in Illinois. The 
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Clearinghouse shall operate in
conjunction with the 
18
Department's toll-free senior information program.


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    (c) The purposes of the Clearinghouse include, but are not 
20
limited
to:


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        (1) Maintaining information on public and private

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    prescription assistance programs for Illinois seniors.


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        (2) Educating citizens on available public and private

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    prescription assistance programs.


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        (3) Educating seniors on how to make an informed 
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    decision about
participation in prescription drug 
27
    assistance programs.


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    (d) The Clearinghouse has the following duties:


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        (1) Provide a one-stop resource for all information for 
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    seniors
regarding public and private prescription drug 
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    discount and coverage programs.


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        (2) Perform outreach and education activities on 
 


 









SB2608
- 2 -
LRB093 20853 DRJ 46787 b







1
    public and private
prescription drug discount and coverage 
2
    programs.


3
        (3) Maintain a toll-free telephone number staffed by 
4
    trained
customer service representatives.


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        (4) Maintain measurable data to identify the progress 
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    and success
of the program, including, but not limited to, 
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    the number of individuals
served,
the type of assistance 
8
    received, and overall program evaluation.


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        (5) Upon the request of an Illinois senior, provide 
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    information
concerning
the purchase of prescription drugs 
11
    from sources outside Illinois.


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    (e) The Department shall work cooperatively with other 
13
Departments
that fund senior health assistance, including 
14
assistance with prescription
drugs, to ensure maximum 
15
coordination.


16
    (f) The Governor shall request the United States Department 
17
of Health and
Human Services to license the Senior Health 
18
Assistance Program to act as an
agent for
Illinois seniors in 
19
purchasing prescription drugs from sources outside
Illinois.


20
(Source: P.A. 92-594, eff. 6-27-02.)


 
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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
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2004.