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| Public Act 096-1183 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning aging.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act is | ||||
amended by changing Section 15 as follows: | ||||
(320 ILCS 50/15)
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Sec. 15. Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Review | ||||
Committee.
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(a) The Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Review Committee | ||||
is
created. The Committee shall consist of 17 members as | ||||
follows:
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(1) Twelve members appointed as follows: 2 members of | ||||
the General
Assembly and 1 member of the general public, | ||||
appointed by the President of the
Senate; 2 members of the | ||||
General Assembly and 1 member of the general public,
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appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 2 members | ||||
of the General
Assembly and 1 member of the general public, | ||||
appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives; | ||||
and 2 members of the General Assembly and 1 member of
the | ||||
general public, appointed by the Minority Leader of the | ||||
House of
Representatives.
These members shall serve at the | ||||
pleasure of the appointing authority.
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(2) The Director of Aging or his or her designee.
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(3) The Director of Revenue or his or her designee.
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(4) The Director of Healthcare and Family Services or | ||
his or her designee.
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(5) The Secretary of Human Services or his or her | ||
designee.
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(6) The Director of Public Health or his or her | ||
designee.
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(b) Members appointed from the general public shall | ||
represent the
following associations, organizations, and | ||
interests: statewide
membership-based senior advocacy | ||
organizations, pharmaceutical manufacturers,
pharmacists,
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dispensing pharmacies, physicians, and providers of services | ||
to senior
citizens.
No single organization may have more than | ||
one representative appointed as a
member from the general | ||
public.
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(c) The President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of
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Representatives shall each designate one member of the | ||
Committee to serve as
co-chairs.
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(d) Committee members shall serve without compensation or
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reimbursement for expenses.
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(e) The Committee shall meet at the call of the co-chairs, | ||
but at
least quarterly.
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(f) The Committee may conduct public hearings to gather | ||
testimony
from interested parties regarding pharmaceutical | ||
assistance for Illinois
seniors, including changes to existing | ||
and proposed programs.
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(f-5) The Committee may review federal legislation with | ||
regard to e-prescribing to determine what provisions, if any, | ||
would improve health care in Illinois. | ||
(f-6) The Committee may conduct public hearings to gather | ||
testimony regarding federal procedure for pandemic | ||
preparedness and response to determine whether or not the State | ||
should update its preparedness procedures and tactics. | ||
(g) The Committee may advise appropriate State agencies | ||
regarding
the establishment of proposed programs or changes to | ||
existing programs. The
State agencies shall take into | ||
consideration any recommendations made by the
Committee.
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(h) The Committee shall report to the General Assembly and | ||
the
Governor annually or as it deems necessary regarding | ||
proposed or recommended
changes to pharmaceutical assistance | ||
programs that benefit Illinois seniors and
any associated costs | ||
of those changes.
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(h-5) The Committee may conduct public hearings to gather | ||
testimony from interested parties regarding prescription drug | ||
abuse to determine whether the State should increase penalties | ||
against those engaged in conduct potentially harmful to | ||
Illinois residents, particularly those under age 25. In order | ||
to do this, the Committee may review guidelines from State | ||
universities addressing prescription drug abuse. | ||
(i) In the event that a prescription drug benefit is added | ||
to the federal
Medicare
program, the Committee shall make | ||
recommendations for the realignment of State-operated senior | ||
prescription drug programs so
that Illinois residents qualify | ||
for at least substantially the same level of benefits
available | ||
to them prior
to implementation of the Medicare prescription | ||
drug benefit, provided that a resident remains eligible for | ||
such a State-operated program. The Committee shall report its | ||
recommendations to the General
Assembly and
the Governor by | ||
January 1, 2005.
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(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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