Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Health Care Committee

HB 1774

Brief Description:  Creating the senior pharmacy assistance program.

Sponsors:  Representatives Pennington (co‑prime sponsor), Conway (co‑prime sponsor), Skinner, Cody, Ballasiotes, Schual‑Berke, Campbell, Darneille, Anderson, Armstrong, Roach, Talcott, Edwards, Wood, Schoesler, Santos, Esser, Dunn, Casada, Bush and Mulliken!Conway!.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Creates a senior pharmacy assistance program to help seniors pay for prescription drugs.

Hearing Date:  2/13/01

Staff:  Dave Knutson (786‑7146).

Background: 

Many seniors over age 65 do not have insurance coverage that provides prescription drug coverage.  Paying for prescription drugs out of pocket is a major financial burden for many seniors on fixed incomes.

Summary of Bill: 

The administrator of the Health Care Authority will develop a senior pharmacy assistance program for individuals 60 years of age and older.  To qualify, an individual must: (1) have an income over 175 percent of the federal poverty limit, (2) not qualify for other prescription drug programs, (3) not be covered by a private reimbursement prescription drug plan, (4) not have voluntarily canceled a public or private insurance plan that provides prescription drug coverage, and (5) pay a coinsurance amount of 30 percent. 

The maximum annual benefit under the program is $1,200.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 12, 2001.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.