SRC-CTC S.B. 1763 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1763 By: Moncrief Health & Human Services 6/8/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, many pharmaceutical manufacturers operate patient assistance programs to provide free or reduced cost medications to patients who cannot afford the medications and meet certain qualifying criteria. However, these programs are not widely publicized and many patients and physicians do not know how to access them or know the eligibility requirements. S.B. 1763 requires each pharmaceutical manufacturer in Texas which has such a program to provide information about the program to the Texas Department of Health (department). Requires the department to then operate a toll-free telephone number to assist patients with finding and applying for such programs and publicize the number to prescibers and pharmacies. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 531, Government Code, by adding Subchapter I, as follows: SUBCHAPTER I. PROVISION OF INFORMATION ABOUT PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS Sec. 531.301. DEFINITION. Defines "patient assistance program." Sec. 531.302. PROVIDING INFORMATION TO COMMISSION. Requires each pharmaceutical company that does business in this state and that offers a patient assistance program to inform the Health and Human Services Commission (commission) of the existence of the program, the eligibility requirements for the program, the drugs covered by the program, and information such as a telephone number used for applying for the program. Sec. 531.303. TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER. Requires the commission to establish a system under which members of the public can call a toll-free telephone number to obtain information about available patient assistance programs. Requires the commission to ensure that the system is staffed at least during normal business hours with persons with certain capabilities. Requires the commissionto publicize the telephone number to pharmacies and prescribers of drugs. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.