1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human services; changing provisions in the 
  1.3             prescription drug assistance program; amending 
  1.4             Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256.955, subdivision 
  1.5             2b; Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, sections 
  1.6             256.955, subdivisions 2a, 3; 256.975, subdivision 9; 
  1.7             repealing Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  1.8             256.955, subdivision 4a. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  1.11  256.955, subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 
  1.12     Subd. 2a.  [ELIGIBILITY.] An individual satisfying the 
  1.13  following requirements and the requirements described in 
  1.14  subdivision 2, paragraph (d), is eligible for the prescription 
  1.15  drug program: 
  1.16     (1) is at least 65 years of age or older; and 
  1.17     (2) is eligible as a qualified Medicare beneficiary 
  1.18  according to section 256B.057, subdivision 3 or 3a, or is 
  1.19  eligible under section 256B.057, subdivision 3 or 3a, and is 
  1.20  also eligible for medical assistance or general assistance 
  1.21  medical care with a spenddown as defined in section 256B.056, 
  1.22  subdivision 5; and 
  1.23     (3) applies for the Medicare discount card, if eligible. 
  1.24     <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective July 1, 2004, 
  1.25  or when enrollment for the Medicare discount card is available, 
  1.26  whichever is later.  
  1.27     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256.955, 
  2.1   subdivision 2b, is amended to read: 
  2.2      Subd. 2b.  [ELIGIBILITY.] Effective July 1, 2002, an 
  2.3   individual satisfying the following requirements and the 
  2.4   requirements described in subdivision 2, paragraph (d), is 
  2.5   eligible for the prescription drug program: 
  2.6      (1) is under 65 years of age; and 
  2.7      (2) is eligible as a qualified Medicare beneficiary 
  2.8   according to section 256B.057, subdivision 3 or 3a or is 
  2.9   eligible under section 256B.057, subdivision 3 or 3a and is also 
  2.10  eligible for medical assistance or general assistance medical 
  2.11  care with a spenddown as defined in section 256B.056, 
  2.12  subdivision 5; and 
  2.13     (3) applies for the Medicare discount card, if eligible. 
  2.14     <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective July 1, 2004, 
  2.15  or when enrollment for the Medicare discount card is available, 
  2.16  whichever is later. 
  2.17     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  2.18  256.955, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  2.19     Subd. 3.  [PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE.] Coverage under the 
  2.20  program shall be limited to those prescription drugs that: 
  2.21     (1) are covered under the medical assistance program as 
  2.22  described in section 256B.0625, subdivision 13; and 
  2.23     (2) are provided by manufacturers that have fully executed 
  2.24  senior prescription drug program rebate agreements with the 
  2.25  commissioner and comply with such agreements; and 
  2.26     (3) for a specific enrollee, are not covered under an 
  2.27  assistance program offered by a pharmaceutical manufacturer, as 
  2.28  determined by the board on aging under section 256.975, 
  2.29  subdivision 9, except that this shall not apply to qualified 
  2.30  individuals under this section who are also eligible for medical 
  2.31  assistance with a spenddown as described in subdivisions 2a, 
  2.32  clause (2), and 2b, clause (2). 
  2.33     <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective July 1, 2004. 
  2.34     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 
  2.35  256.975, subdivision 9, is amended to read: 
  2.36     Subd. 9.  [PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSISTANCE.] (a) The Minnesota 
  3.1   Board on Aging shall establish and administer a prescription 
  3.2   drug assistance program to assist individuals in accessing 
  3.3   programs offered by pharmaceutical manufacturers that provide 
  3.4   free or discounted prescription drugs or provide coverage for 
  3.5   prescription drugs.  The board shall use computer software 
  3.6   programs to: 
  3.7      (1) list eligibility requirements for pharmaceutical 
  3.8   assistance programs offered by manufacturers; 
  3.9      (2) list drugs that are included in a supplemental rebate 
  3.10  contract between the commissioner and a pharmaceutical 
  3.11  manufacturer under section 256.01, subdivision 2, clause (23); 
  3.12  and 
  3.13     (3) link individuals with the pharmaceutical assistance 
  3.14  programs most appropriate for the individual.  The board shall 
  3.15  make information on the prescription drug assistance program 
  3.16  available to interested individuals and health care providers 
  3.17  and shall coordinate the program with the statewide information 
  3.18  and assistance service provided through the Senior LinkAge Line 
  3.19  under subdivision 7. 
  3.20     (b) The board shall work with the commissioner and county 
  3.21  social service agencies to coordinate the enrollment of 
  3.22  individuals who are referred to the prescription drug assistance 
  3.23  program from the prescription drug program, as required under 
  3.24  section 256.955, subdivision 4a. 
  3.25     <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective July 1, 2004. 
  3.26     Sec. 5.  [REPEALER.] 
  3.27     Minnesota Statutes 2003 Supplement, section 256.955, 
  3.28  subdivision 4a, is repealed effective July 1, 2004.