SB 5566-S.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Declares an intent to improve care to patients by minimizing confusion, eliminating unnecessary paperwork, decreasing administrative burdens, and streamlining dispensing of prescription products paid for by third-party payors.

     Provides that a health carrier that provides coverage for prescription drugs provided on an outpatient basis and issues a card or other technology for claims processing, or an administrator of a health benefit plan including, but not limited to, third-party administrators for self-insured plans, pharmacy benefits managers, and state administered plans, shall issue to its enrollees a pharmacy identification card or other technology containing all information required for proper claims adjudication.

     Requires that, upon renewal of the health benefit plan, information on the pharmacy identification card or other technology shall be made current by the health carrier or other entity that issues the card.

     Declares that nothing in this act shall be construed to require any health carrier to issue a pharmacy identification card or other technology separate from another identification card issued to an enrollee under the health benefit plan if the identification card contains all of the information required under this act.

     Declares that this section applies to health benefit plans that are delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after July 1, 2003.

     Authorizes the insurance commissioner to adopt rules to implement this act, taking into consideration any relevant standards developed by the national council for prescription drug programs and the requirements of the federal health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996.