2006 Legislation
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HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 15 – Free medication prog, uniform forms

HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 15

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HJM015................................................by HEALTH AND WELFARE
FREE MEDICATION PROGRAM - Stating findings of the Legislature and urging
Congress to mandate a standardized application for use by pharmaceutical
companies in determining eligibility for free medications from the
companies.
                                                                        
02/13    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/14    Rpt prt - to Health/Wel

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-eighth Legislature                   Second Regular Session - 2006
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 15
                                                                        
                              BY HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                   A JOINT MEMORIAL
  2    TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED  STATES  IN  CONGRESS
  3        ASSEMBLED,  AND  TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE STATE OF
  4        IDAHO IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
                                                                        
  5        We, your Memorialists, the House of Representatives and the Senate of  the
  6    State  of  Idaho  assembled  in the Second Regular Session of the Fifty-eighth
  7    Idaho Legislature, do hereby respectfully represent that:
                                                                        
  8        WHEREAS, there are an estimated 148,000 adults  in  Idaho  without  health
  9    care coverage; and
 10        WHEREAS, 286,000 Idaho adults live in households with incomes of less than
 11    or equal to 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG); and
 12        WHEREAS,  78,000  or  nearly  30 percent of the households at or below 180
 13    percent of the FPG are without health insurance; and
 14        WHEREAS, many of these individuals qualify for patient assistance programs
 15    available through pharmaceutical companies; and
 16        WHEREAS, health care providers throughout Idaho, including hospitals, com-
 17    munity health centers, residency programs, free clinics, physicians'  offices,
 18    county  governments  and  other community agencies, have shown a commitment to
 19    assisting patients in accessing these programs because the application process
 20    is burdensome and time-consuming; and
 21        WHEREAS, depending upon the medication needed, there are approximately 191
 22    programs and forms from the various pharmaceutical companies that must be com-
 23    pleted in order to access these medications; and
 24        WHEREAS, each patient averages between three to five medications and  some
 25    have as many as nine medications; and
 26        WHEREAS,  the  average  savings in prescription costs to these patients is
 27    estimated to be approximately $2,400 annually; and
 28        WHEREAS, these prescriptions represent preventive medications, the  avail-
 29    ability  of  which  reduces additional costs in the health care safety net and
 30    are lifesaving in certain circumstances; and
 31        WHEREAS, the most common types of medications requested  are  hypertension
 32    medications and antidepressants; and
 33        WHEREAS,  the estimated time to complete each application for each patient
 34    by hand is thirty minutes to one hour; and
 35        WHEREAS, there would be considerable time saved for health care  providers
 36    in  Idaho  and  increased  access  to  necessary  prescriptions for low-income
 37    Idahoans if the process were streamlined; and
 38        WHEREAS, it is generally estimated that  a  standardized  application  for
 39    these  prescriptions  would reduce the time necessary to complete applications
 40    for any individual by half, based upon experience  using  electronic  software
 41    that completes the process at a cost.
 42        NOW,  THEREFORE,  BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
 43    sion of the Fifty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the House of  Representatives  and
 44    the Senate concurring therein, that we urge Congress to mandate a standardized
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    application for use by pharmaceutical companies in determining eligibility for
  2    free medications from the pharmaceutical companies.
  3        BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representa-
  4    tives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of  this
  5    Memorial to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Repre-
  6    sentatives  of  Congress,  and  the  congressional delegation representing the
  7    State of Idaho in the Congress of the United States.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                             RS 16012

This legislation urges Congress to mandate a standardized
application for use by pharmaceutical companies in determining
eligibility for free medications from the pharmaceutical
companies.


                           FISCAL NOTE

No impact to the general fund.




Contact
Name: Rep. Margaret Henbest 
Phone: 332-1000


STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                        HJM 15