NOTE:  This bill has been prepared for the signature of the appropriate legislative
officers and the Governor.  To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill
or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative
      history, or the Session Laws.
      
      
      HOUSE BILL 07-1021
      
      
      BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Frangas, Butcher, Stafford, Todd, Borodkin,
      Casso, Garcia, Gibbs, Green, Hodge, Kefalas, Kerr A., Labuda, Looper,
      Madden, Peniston, Riesberg, Romanoff, Solano, Soper, Witwer, and
      Carroll M.;
      also SENATOR(S) Keller, Tochtrop, Boyd, Groff, Johnson, Taylor, and
      Windels.
      
      
      Concerning the prescription drug consumer information and
           technical assistance program, and making an appropriation
           therefor.
       
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  25.5-5-503 (2), Colorado Revised Statutes, is
      amended to read:
      
           25.5-5-503.  Prescription drug benefits - authorization -
      dual-eligible participation.  (2)  Prescribed drugs shall not be a covered
      benefit under the medical assistance program for a recipient who is enrolled
      in eligible for a prescription drug benefit program under medicare; except
      that, if a prescribed drug is not a covered Part D drug as defined in the
      "Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of
      2003", P.L. 108-173, Pub.L. 108-173, the prescribed drug may be a covered
      benefit if it is otherwise covered under the medical assistance program and
      federal financial participation is available.
      
           SECTION 2.  Part 5 of article 5 of title 25.5, Colorado Revised
      Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:
      
           25.5-5-507.  Prescription drug information and technical
      assistance program - rules.  There is hereby created the prescription
      drug information and technical assistance program.  The program
      shall provide advice on the prudent use of prescription drugs to
      persons who receive prescription drug benefits pursuant to this
      part 5.  The state department shall contract with licensed
      pharmacists for statewide medicaid pharmacy services and
      pharmacy consultations for persons receiving prescription drug
      benefits pursuant to this part 5 regarding how each person may,
      with the approval of the appropriate prescribing health care
      provider, avoid dangerous drug interactions, improve patient
      outcomes, and save the state money for the drugs prescribed.  The
      state department shall promulgate rules to establish and
      administer the program and to provide incentive payments to
      pharmacists and physicians who participate in the program.  The
      state department shall design a calculation for savings under
      the program.
      
           SECTION 3.  Appropriation  - adjustment to the 2007 long bill. 
      (1)  For the implementation of this act, appropriations made in the annual
      general appropriation act to the department of health care policy and
      financing, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, shall be adjusted as
      follows:
      
           (a)  The general fund appropriation to the executive director's office
      is increased by the sum of thirty-five thousand five hundred twenty-four
      dollars ($35,524) and 1.0 FTE.  Said sum shall be subject to the "(M)"
      notation as defined in the general appropriation act. In addition to said
      appropriation, the general assembly anticipates that, for the fiscal year
      beginning July 1, 2007, the department of health care policy and financing
      will receive the sum of forty-three thousand nine hundred ninety-eight
      dollars ($43,998) in federal funds for the implementation of this act. 
      Although the federal funds are not appropriated in this act, they are noted
      for the purpose of indicating the assumptions used relative to these funds
      in developing state appropriation amounts.
      
           (b)  The appropriation for the medical services premiums division is
      decreased by six hundred twenty-four thousand eight hundred three dollars
      ($624,803). Of said sum, three hundred twelve thousand four hundred one
      dollars ($312,401) shall be from the general fund and three hundred twelve
      thousand four hundred two dollars ($312,402) shall be from federal funds.
      
           SECTION 4.  Effective date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.
      
           SECTION 5.  Safety clause.  The general assembly hereby finds,
      determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
      preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.
      
      
      
      
      ________________________________________________________
      Andrew Romanoff                      Joan Fitz-Gerald
      SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE                     PRESIDENT OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Marilyn Eddins                          Karen Goldman
      CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE                 SECRETARY OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    Bill Ritter, Jr.
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO