Bill Text: MA H1075 | 2009-2010 | 186th General Court | Introduced
Bill Title: Establish a state pharmacy council to coordinate agencies in lowering prescription drug costs
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-08-30 - Accompanied a study order, see H05006 [H1075 Detail]
Download: Massachusetts-2009-H1075-Introduced.html
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
PRESENTED BY:
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
_______________
To the
Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing the state pharmacy council.
_______________
PETITION OF:
|
Name: |
District/Address: |
|
Viriato Manuel deMacedo |
1st Plymouth |
|
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. |
20th Middlesex |
|
George N. Peterson, Jr. |
9th Worcester |
|
Elizabeth Poirier |
14th Bristol |
|
Paul K. Frost |
7th Worcester |
|
Susan Williams Gifford |
2nd Plymouth |
|
Richard J. Ross |
9th Norfolk |
|
Todd M. Smola |
1st Hampden |
|
Bradford R. Hill |
4th Essex |
|
Robert S. Hargraves |
1st Middlesex |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS
SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1138 OF 2007-2008.]
The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts
_______________
In the Year Two Thousand and Nine
_______________
An Act establishing the state pharmacy council.
Be
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court
assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a state pharmacy council which shall consist of the commissioner of public health, or designee; the commissioner of insurance, or designee; the secretary of elder affairs, or designee; the secretary of health and human services, or designee; three consumers, to be appointed by the governor; a member from the Massachusetts Medical Society, so-called; a member from Massachusetts Pharmacists Association, so-called; a member from the Massachusetts Independent Pharmacists Association, so-called; a member from the Massachusetts Chain Pharmacy Council, so called; a member from the Massachusetts Society of Health-System Pharmacists, so-called; a member from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, so-called; a member from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, so-called; a member from Blue Cross Blue Shield, so-called; a member from Tufts Health Plan, so-called; a member from Commonwealth Communities, so called; and a member from Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, so-called. The appointed members shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. The state pharmacy council shall meet at least quarterly.
SECTION 2. The state pharmacy council shall act to coordinate the agencies within the executive office of health and human services and the division of insurance in their effort to lower prescription drug costs for the state. The state pharmacy council shall be responsible for ensuring the ongoing communication and coordination between agencies and the agencies’ communications with the legislature, while having a vested interest in achieving savings in prescription drug spending. The state pharmacy council shall explore improvements in program costs, access, and quality.
SECTION 3. The state pharmacy council shall review legislation and regulations relating to programs and operations relative to pharmaceuticals and shall make recommendations concerning the effect of such legislation or regulation. Said council shall recommend policies which will contribute to lowering prescription drug costs in the state. Said council shall recommend policies for the conduct, supervision or coordination of relationships between state and county agencies, other state and local government agencies, federal agencies and nongovernmental entities with respect to all matters relating to prescription drugs in the state.
