SB 5026-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)

     Provides that, no later than July 1, 2003, the health care authority shall implement a program to aggregate the purchase of prescription drugs from suppliers for prescription drug programs in this state, to be known as the "aggregate purchasing prescription drug discount program."  The authority may contract with an outside manager to administer this program, which shall include the following components:

     (1) Price discounts on prescription drugs negotiated by the health care authority or manager with prescription drug suppliers on behalf of prescription drug programs in this state.

     (2) A means to make the negotiated price discounts available to any person who is:

     (a) A resident of the state of Washington;

     (b) Ineligible for medicaid prescription benefits;

     (c) Ineligible for, or not receiving, or both, a prescription drug benefit under a medicare supplemental policy or any other third-party payer prescription benefit; and

     (d)(i) At least fifty-five years old; or

     (ii) Between the ages of nineteen and fifty-four who is otherwise eligible for benefits under Title II of the social security act (federal old-age, survivors, and disability insurance benefits).