Waiver for prescription drug assistance for elderly program, use of excess moneys in prescription drug assistance for elderly program, and making an appropriation. (FE)

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, the Department of Health Services (DHS) administers the Senior Care program, which provides assistance to the elderly in the purchase of prescription drugs. The program is operated under a waiver of federal Medicaid laws, but DHS is required to implement the program regardless of whether the waiver is received from the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

Some of the moneys to administer the Senior Care program derive from the federal government and other moneys come from the state's general purpose revenue (GPR) or from program revenue (PR). Moneys from GPR are used to pay pharmacies and pharmacists under the Senior Care program. Program revenue from rebate payments by manufacturers is used to pay pharmacies and pharmacists and PR from payment of enrollment fees is used for administration of Senior Care. This bill requires DHS to obtain any waiver of federal Medicaid laws necessary to continue administration of Senior Care and to implement any waiver received for the administration of Senior Care. The bill also requires that any GPR moneys remaining after paying pharmacies and pharmacists, any PR moneys remaining after paying pharmacies and pharmacists and paying for program administration, and any federal moneys remaining be used by DHS for the following purposes: to reduce enrollment costs for seniors participating in Senior Care, to reduce the prices paid by Senior Care enrollees for prescription drugs, and to enlarge the number of prescription drugs available through the Senior Care program.

Who's behind it

9 senators are its authors⁠. All 9 are Democrats.

29 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.