HR1135 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1135 LRB093 22933 DRJ 52790 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, New provisions relating to self-insured State health insurance plans require that plan beneficiaries obtain prescription drugs from mail-order pharmacies instead of local pharmacies located in this State; and

WHEREAS, A patient's relationship with his or her local pharmacist is important to the patient's health care; a patient using a mail-order pharmacy cannot ask a pharmacist questions face-to-face and will not receive individual attention, possibly jeopardizing the patient's health; and

WHEREAS, The use of a mail-order pharmacy may create serious problems in the timing of a patient's receipt of necessary prescription drugs; and

WHEREAS, Prescription-drug business with local pharmacies is important to the economy of this State and will suffer if State health insurance plan beneficiaries are required to use mail-order pharmacies instead; the required use of mail-order pharmacies may result in the closure of local pharmacies and diminished access to pharmacy services for the people of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The closure of local pharmacies will lead to a loss of jobs in the cities and towns of this State, increased unemployment, and a greater financial burden on the State; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Governor to reconsider the new mandatory mail-order pharmacy provisions that have been added to the self-insured State health insurance plans; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the Governor.