1-1 By: Moncrief S.B. No. 1763 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 16, 2001; March 20, 2001, read 1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services; 1-4 April 10, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, 1-5 Nays 0; April 10, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the provision of information about patient assistance 1-9 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended 1-12 by adding Subchapter Q to read as follows: 1-13 SUBCHAPTER Q. PROVISION OF INFORMATION ABOUT 1-14 PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 1-15 Sec. 161.381. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "patient 1-16 assistance program" means a program offered by a pharmaceutical 1-17 company under which the company provides a drug to persons in need 1-18 of assistance at no charge or at a substantially reduced cost. The 1-19 term does not include the provision of a drug as part of a clinical 1-20 trial. 1-21 Sec. 161.382. PROVIDING INFORMATION TO DEPARTMENT. Each 1-22 pharmaceutical company that does business in this state and that 1-23 offers a patient assistance program shall inform the department of 1-24 the existence of the program, the eligibility requirements for the 1-25 program, the drugs covered by the program, and information such as 1-26 a telephone number used for applying for the program. 1-27 Sec. 161.383. TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER. (a) The 1-28 department shall establish a system under which members of the 1-29 public can call a toll-free telephone number to obtain information 1-30 about available patient assistance programs. The department shall 1-31 ensure that the system is staffed at least during normal business 1-32 hours with persons who can: 1-33 (1) determine whether a patient assistance program is 1-34 offered for a particular drug; 1-35 (2) determine whether a person may be eligible to 1-36 participate in a program; and 1-37 (3) assist persons who wish to apply for a program. 1-38 (b) The department shall publicize the telephone number to 1-39 pharmacies and prescribers of drugs. 1-40 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-41 * * * * *