LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                                May 3, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair, House Committee on Public
               Health
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB1763  by Moncrief (Relating to the provision of
               information about patient assistance programs offered by
               pharmaceutical companies.), Committee Report 2nd House,
               Substituted
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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This bill would require that pharmaceutical companies doing business in
Texas inform the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) concerning
their patient assistance programs (PAPs) which provide drugs at reduced
or no cost to persons in need of assistance.

The bill would require the HHSC to establish a toll-free telephone number
for members of the public to use in requesting information and
assistance about PAPs. The bill would further require that the HHSC
publicize the availability of the toll-free line to pharmacies and
prescribers of drugs. The costs of providing and operating a toll-free
number and outreach, including selected mailings and web site, could be
reasonably absorbed within existing resources.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   529   Health and Human Services Commission
LBB Staff:         JK, HD, AJ, SW