ESSB 5180 - H AMD 317 FAILED 4-25-99

By Representative Alexander

On page 41, after line 26, insert A$1,000,000 of the general fund--state appropriation for fiscal year 2000 and $1,000,000 of the general fund--state appropriation for fiscal year 2001 are provided solely to establish a pilot program in a limited number of counties to evaluate the treatment outcomes and cost benefits of providing funding for atypical antipsychotic medications, and other antipsychotic medications when appropriate, in community settings for persons who are not currently eligible for benefits under the medicaid program, Title XIX of the federal social security act. The program shall be developed in consultation with the regional support networks and other interested organizations, and implemented through the regional support networks. The program design shall include the establishment of a funding mechanism separate from the regional support network funding formula for distributing specific appropriations for the atypical antipsychotic medications to community settings and regional support networks participating in the pilot.

(i) Atypical antipsychotic medications provided through the program shall be purchased by the department through competitive procurement. The procurement shall include at a minimum: (A) a requirement that rates paid for the medications not exceed those paid to pharmacists for dispensing fees and ingredient costs of atypical antipsychotic medications under the state medicaid program, exclusive of rebate payments made by pharmaceutical manufacturers to the department; (B) a requirement that there be an adequate distribution mechanism to make the medications available in communities served by the program; (C) a requirement that all federal drug administration approved atypical antipsychotic medications be included in the program, using the same formulary guidelines that exist for state Medicaid enrollees, and provided to eligible persons as prescribed by the consulting mental health services provider; and (D) other performance standards deemed appropriate by the department.

(ii) Benefits under the pilot program will be targeted to the following groups of persons: (A) Persons in crisis who are not medicaid eligible; (B) working poor persons who are not medicaid eligible and who need continued access to antipsychotic medications in order to retain their employment; (C) persons transitioning from jail or from department of corrections facilities to medicaid eligibility; and (D) persons in jail.

(iii) The pilot program shall include an evaluation component. The evaluation shall assess whether the availability of atypical antipsychotic medications through the program results in cost savings to the state and positive treatment outcomes for persons served through the program, including the ability to obtain and maintain employment; and whether the funding mechanism developed for the pilot adequately provides services to identified persons in need in the pilot counties.@

On page 40, line 9, increase the general fund--state appropriation for fiscal year 2000 by $1,000,000

On page 40, line 10, increase the general fund--state appropriation for fiscal year 2001 by $1,000,000

On page 40, line 13, correct the total accordingly.