HCS SCS SB 28 -- IMPAIRED PHARMACIST WELL-BEING COMMITTEE AND
PHARMACEUTICAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

SPONSOR:  Dolan (Threlkeld)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute allows the Missouri State Board for Pharmacy to
establish the Well-being Committee to aid pharmacists who suffer
from illness, substance abuse, mental illness, or physical
impairments.  The board will enter into contractual agreements
with nonprofit corporations for the purpose of creating,
supporting, and maintaining the committee.  All communications
involving the licensee and the committee are confidential and not
considered public records.

The committee may disclose information about an impaired licensee
when it is necessary to further the intervention, treatment, or
rehabilitation of the licensee; the release is authorized by the
licensee; the committee must make a report to the board; or the
information is subject to a court order.

The substitute specifies that anti-kickback laws relating to
referrals for health care services do not apply to certain
programs established by pharmaceutical companies to provide
financial assistance to individuals with chronic, potentially
debilitating, or life-threatening conditions who have been
prescribed disease-managing medications for which there is no
generic equivalent.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on General Revenue Fund in FY 2006, FY
2007, and FY 2008.  Estimated Effect on Other State Funds of an
Income of $0 in FY 2006, a Cost of $123,600 in FY 2007, and a
Cost of $127,308 in FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that persons with multiple sclerosis
can only take certain disease modifying drugs.  These drugs are
very expensive, averaging between $12,000 and $18,000 a year.
Due to the high cost of these drugs, most insurance plans have
gone from co-pay to co-insurance, a percentage of the cost.  The
cost of co-insurance has placed a significant financial burden on
persons with multiple sclerosis.  The drug companies are willing
to help by providing rebates to patients.  Currently, Missouri's
anti-kickback law prohibits this type of rebating, but the bill
will allow the drug companies to provide some relief for the
patients.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Threlkeld.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Bob Dominique, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:21 pm