LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 6, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Mike Moncrief, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Health & Human Services
  
        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.), As Introduced
  
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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 Texas Department of Health (TDH) concerning their
patient assistance programs (PAPs) which provide drugs at reduced or no
cost to persons in need of assistance.

The bill would require TDH 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 TDH 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:   501   Texas Department of Health
LBB Staff:         JK, HD, AJ, SW