77R12937 JRD-D By Moncrief, et al. S.B. No. 1763 Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1763: By Gray C.S.S.B. No. 1763 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the provision of information about patient assistance 1-3 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Subchapter I to read as follows: 1-7 SUBCHAPTER I. PROVISION OF INFORMATION ABOUT 1-8 PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 1-9 Sec. 531.301. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "patient 1-10 assistance program" means a program offered by a pharmaceutical 1-11 company under which the company provides a drug to persons in need 1-12 of assistance at no charge or at a substantially reduced cost. The 1-13 term does not include the provision of a drug as part of a clinical 1-14 trial. 1-15 Sec. 531.302. PROVIDING INFORMATION TO COMMISSION. Each 1-16 pharmaceutical company that does business in this state and that 1-17 offers a patient assistance program shall inform the commission of 1-18 the existence of the program, the eligibility requirements for the 1-19 program, the drugs covered by the program, and information such as 1-20 a telephone number used for applying for the program. 1-21 Sec. 531.303. TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER. (a) The 1-22 commission shall establish a system under which members of the 1-23 public can call a toll-free telephone number to obtain information 1-24 about available patient assistance programs. The commission shall 2-1 ensure that the system is staffed at least during normal business 2-2 hours with persons who can: 2-3 (1) determine whether a patient assistance program is 2-4 offered for a particular drug; 2-5 (2) determine whether a person may be eligible to 2-6 participate in a program; and 2-7 (3) assist persons who wish to apply for a program. 2-8 (b) The commission shall publicize the telephone number to 2-9 pharmacies and prescribers of drugs. 2-10 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.