2003 House Bill 4151

Introduced in the House

Feb. 5, 2003

Introduced by Rep. David Woodward (D-26)

To require the Department of Community Health (DCH) to negotiate drug discounts or rebates with prescription drug companies, make public the names of companies that refuse to offer rebates, and require prior authorization before any drug made by a company that refused to agree to a rebate or discount could be dispensed to a recipient of Medicaid or other low income health program. The bill would also establish a state “Rx Card” program which would extend discounts to Medicaid clients and other people without health care or drug insurance coverage. The program would require pharmacies that fill Medicaid-paid prescriptions to sell drugs to Rx cardholders at reduced prices which are set by the bill, and would reimburse the cost of the discounts from the rebates received from drug makers.

Referred to the Committee on Health Policy