HB1476 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 06957 DRJ 39309 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB1476

Introduced 02/10/05, by Rep. Elizabeth Coulson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2205/2205-15 new

Amends the Department of Public Aid Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Illinois Department of Public Aid, through an inter-agency agreement with the Department of Central Management Services, the Department on Aging, the Department of Public Health, and the Division of Insurance of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, shall: (1) coordinate each State pharmaceutical or medical assistance program with the Medicare Part D benefit so that Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible for or enrolled in State pharmaceutical or medical assistance programs maintain their current pharmaceutical coverage to the extent allowed under federal law; and (2) coordinate each State pharmaceutical or medical assistance program with Medicare Part D to maximize pharmaceutical coverage for individuals, to minimize disruption in enrollment and eligibility for state and federal programs, to minimize out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries and to maximize federal funding for pharmaceutical coverage. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Public Aid Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 2205-15 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2205/2205-15 new)

Sec. 2205-15. Implementation of Medicare Part D pharmaceutical coverage.

(a) The Medicare Modernization Act of 2004 created a new Medicare benefit, Medicare Part D, to provide pharmaceutical coverage to Medicare beneficiaries beginning on January 1, 2006. The General Assembly recognizes that Medicare Part D may impact eligibility and coverage for the following State pharmaceutical or medical assistance programs: (i) medical assistance, or Medicaid, under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code; (ii) SeniorCare, under Section 5-5.12a of the Illinois Public Aid Code; (iii) the State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program, under the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act; (iv) the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Prescription Drug Discount Program, under the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Prescription Drug Discount Program Act; (v) the Comprehensive Health Insurance Program, under the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan Act; and (vi) the Aids Drug Assistance Program, under the authority of Section 2310-315 of the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. As used in this Section, "State pharmaceutical or medical assistance programs" means the programs described in items (i) through (vi).

(b) The Illinois Department of Public Aid, through an inter-agency agreement with the Department of Central Management Services, the Department on Aging, the Department of Public Health, and the Division of Insurance of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, shall do the following:

(1) Coordinate each State pharmaceutical or medical assistance program with the Medicare Part D benefit so that Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible for or enrolled in State pharmaceutical or medical assistance programs maintain their current pharmaceutical coverage to the extent allowed under federal law.

(2) Coordinate each State pharmaceutical or medical assistance program with Medicare Part D to maximize pharmaceutical coverage for individuals, to minimize disruption in enrollment and eligibility for State and federal programs, to minimize out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries, and to maximize federal funding for pharmaceutical coverage.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.