                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION; COMMISSIONERS TO DEVELOP SINGLE
APPLICATION FORM FOR PHARMACEUTICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND PHARMACEUTICAL
DISCOUNT PURCHASING CARDS; CERTAIN ANALYSIS OF ACCESS TO THE PHARMACY CONNECTION
PROGRAM (§ 32.1-23.1)

A. The Commissioner shall create links from the Virginia Department of
Health&#8217;s website to the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative
Services&#8217; website and its affiliated sites pertaining to pharmaceutical
assistance programs and pharmaceutical discount purchasing cards. The
Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative Services shall cooperate with the
Commissioner of Health by ensuring that such information is available on the
Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services&#8217; website.

B. The Commissioner shall ensure that all clinical sites administered by local
health departments are provided with adequate information concerning the
services of the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services,
including, but not limited to, its toll-free telephone number and its website
information on pharmaceutical assistance programs and pharmaceutical discount
purchasing cards.

C. The Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative
Services shall coordinate the dissemination of information to the public
regarding any pharmaceutical discount purchasing card programs while maintaining
a neutral posture regarding such programs.
			In addition, with such funds as may be made available, the Commissioner of
Health and the Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative Services shall
disseminate information to the public concerning recent congressional actions
relating to pharmaceutical benefits to be provided under the Medicare program
and how such benefits may help senior citizens with the costs of pharmaceutical
benefits.

D. The Commissioner shall establish a toll-free telephone number, to be
administered by the Virginia Department of Health, which shall provide recorded
information concerning services available from the Department for Aging and
Rehabilitative Services, the Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and
other appropriate organizations for senior citizens.

E. The Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative
Services shall develop a strategy, in coordination with the Virginia Association
of Area Agencies on Aging and other private and nonprofit organizations, for
disseminating information to the public concerning the availability of
pharmaceutical assistance programs and for training senior citizen volunteers to
assist in completing applications for pharmaceutical assistance programs and
pharmaceutical discount purchasing cards.

F. In addition to the responsibilities set forth in subsections A through E, the
Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative
Services shall encourage pharmaceutical manufacturers to include application
forms for pharmaceutical discount purchasing card programs on their respective
websites in a format capable of being downloaded and printed by consumers. When
practicable, the website maintained by the Department for Aging and
Rehabilitative Services shall include direct links to such forms. Further, the
Commissioner of Health and the Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative
Services shall report to the Governor and General Assembly by October 30, 2004,
on the feasibility of developing a single application form for Virginians to use
to seek eligibility for the nearly 50 pharmaceutical assistance programs and
pharmaceutical discount purchasing cards.
			In determining feasibility, the Commissioners shall obtain copies of the
application forms used by such pharmaceutical assistance programs and
pharmaceutical discount purchasing cards in Virginia, compile a list of the
various information required to complete such application forms, identify common
elements, and analyze the forms for readability and simplicity. Upon completion
of this analysis, the Commissioners shall assess the feasibility of designing a
single, concise application form that is logically formatted, written in clear
and easily comprehensible language, and covers any and all data that may be
required to obtain eligibility for any such pharmaceutical assistance program or
pharmaceutical discount purchasing card.

G. In order to maximize the benefits of the new Medicare pharmaceutical discount
card program for Virginia&#8217;s senior citizens, the Commissioner of Health
shall annually for two years commencing on July 1, 2005, (i) analyze access to
The Pharmacy Connection program vis-a-vis the Medicare pharmaceutical discount
card program, the $600 transitional coverage provided under federal law, and
pharmaceutical companies&#8217; offers of &#8220;wrap-around&#8221; coverage for
low-income seniors; and (ii) recommend, to the Virginia Health Care Foundation,
the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and the Governor, appropriate
localities for expansion of access to The Pharmacy Connection program in
Virginia, particularly in areas having high concentrations of low-income
seniors. The goal of the Commissioner&#8217;s analysis shall be to facilitate
statewide implementation of The Pharmacy Connection program. The Commissioner
shall complete this analysis by October 31 of each year and shall immediately
request an estimate of the costs of the recommended expansion of such access
from the Virginia Health Care Foundation to be forwarded to the Secretary and
the Governor, for inclusion in the appropriation act, in so far as possible and
appropriate to promote the health and safety of Virginia&#8217;s senior
citizens.

H. To assist them in completing the responsibilities set forth in subsections E,
F, and G, the Commissioners may appoint an advisory task force of stakeholders.

HISTORY: 2003, cc. 661, 674; 2004, cc. 73, 318; 2005, c. 715; 2012, cc. 803,
835.