FIRST REGULAR SESSION
93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES BRINGER (Sponsor), CHAPPELLE-NADAL, BAKER (25), RUCKER, BLAND, DONNELLY, BARNITZ, WITTE, SWINGER, YOUNG, KRATKY, HARRIS (23), BURNETT, SPRENG, LIESE, JOLLY, FRASER, DAUS, VILLA, JOHNSON (61), SANDERS BROOKS, ROBINSON, SHOEMYER, HENKE, KUESSNER, CORCORAN, WILDBERGER, OXFORD, ROORDA, AULL, LAMPE, CURLS, STORCH, LOW (39), PAGE, ZWEIFEL, DOUGHERTY, BOWMAN, VOGT, SELBY, MEADOWS, SCHOEMEHL, HUGHES AND HARRIS (110) (Co-sponsors).
Read 1st time March 8, 2005 and copies ordered printed.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 208, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to medical assistance, with an emergency clause.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 208, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 208.545, to read as follows:
208.545. 1. Any person sixty-five years of age or older who loses his or her eligibility under the state Medicaid program on July 1, 2005, shall automatically be enrolled in the senior Rx program. On or before August 1, 2005, the department of social services shall compile and provide the department of health and senior services with a list of all persons sixty-five years of age or older who become ineligible for Medicaid coverage on July 1, 2005.
2. For persons automatically enrolled under subsection 1 of this section:
(1) Any out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs purchased by such persons between July 1, 2005, and the date on which the department of health and senior services is notified of a person's ineligibility for Medicaid coverage shall be credited towards the deductible requirements under the senior Rx program;
(2) Such persons shall not be eligible for reimbursement of any prescription drug costs paid in excess of the deductible requirements under the senior Rx program which were paid by such persons prior to notification by the department of social services that such persons are ineligible for Medicaid coverage;
(3) The department of health and senior services shall notify such persons of their automatic enrollment in and the benefits of the senior Rx program within fifteen days of such automatic enrollment; and
(4) Such persons may opt out of the program after automatic enrollment by notifying the department in writing or by declining to pay the enrollment fee for the program.
3. After the initial automatic enrollment of any person sixty-five years of age or older in the senior Rx program under this section, such person's continued participation in the program for any subsequent program period shall be in accordance with sections 208.550 to 208.574.
Section B. Because immediate action is necessary to ensure continued prescription drug coverage for certain low-income residents of this state section A of this act is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace, and safety, and is hereby declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the constitution, and section A of this act shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval.