2001-2002 Bill 4582: Medicaid Prescription Reimbursement Payments, to Suspend the Two Dollar

BIL:4582

TYP:Joint Resolution JR

INB:House

IND:20020124

PSP:Stuart

SPO:Stuart, Allison, CobbHunter, Freeman, Gilham, Haskins, Hinson, Lee, Martin, MeachamRichardson, Miller, MoodyLawrence, Neilson, Parks, Rodgers, A.Young, J.Hines, Askins

DDN:l:\council\bills\nbd\11109ac02.doc

RBY:House

COM:Ways and Means Committee 30 HWM

SUB:Medicaid prescription reimbursement payments, to suspend the two dollar and five cents reduction in

HST:

BodyDateAction DescriptionComLeg Involved

______

House20020206Co-Sponsor added (Rule 5.2) by Rep.Askins

House20020124Introduced, read first time,30 HWM

referred to Committee

Versions of This Bill

TXT:

A JOINT RESOLUTION

DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IMMEDIATELY TO SUSPEND THE TWO DOLLAR AND FIVE CENTS REDUCTION IN PRESCRIPTION PAYMENT REIMBURSEMENT PROVIDED FOR IN ITEM II OF MEDICAID BULLETIN PHARM 0106.

Whereas, the South Carolina Pharmacy Association serves to promote, elevate, and expand the practice of individual pharmacists in South Carolina; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Pharmacy Association is dedicated to promoting highquality pharmacist care and to restoring, maintaining, and promoting the health and wellbeing of the thousands of South Carolinians who are served by our state’s pharmacists; and

Whereas, South Carolina’s community pharmacies are an essential and easily accessible part of our state’s health care system as most South Carolinians are within a few miles of a community pharmacy and rely on their community pharmacist for personal health care advice; and

Whereas, there are only two hundred ninetyeight independent community pharmacies in South Carolina, and even including the chain pharmacies, there are fewer pharmacies in South Carolina now than there were five years ago; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly wish to express their gratitude to the pharmacists practicing in our State for their critical role in providing quality health care to all South Carolinians and endeavor to assist these pharmacists in retaining their practices and thereby maintaining their essential role in our health care system; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly as well as the South Carolina Pharmacy Association, are grievously concerned that the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ recent, significant reduction in payment to pharmacists for Medicaid prescriptions could result in patients having less access to pharmacy services and could severely impact health care delivery and the practice of pharmacy in South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION1.The Department of Health and Human Services shall immediately suspend the two dollar and five cents reduction in prescription payment reimbursements provided for in Item II of Medicaid Bulletin Pharm 0106.

SECTION2.This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

[4582]1