By Mr. Jones of North Reading, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1138) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others for legislation to establish a state pharmacy council to coordinate agencies in lowering prescription drug costs.  Health Care Financing.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

Mary S. Rogeness

George N. Peterson, Jr.

John A. Lepper

Viriato Manuel deMacedo

Paul K. Frost

Elizabeth A. Poirier

Robert S. Hargraves

Karyn E. Polito

Susan Williams Gifford

Richard J. Ross

Paul J. P. Loscocco

Donald F. Humason, Jr.

Todd M. Smola

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act establishing the state pharmacy council.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a state pharmacy council which shall consist of the commissioner of public health, or designee;  the commissioner of insurance, or designee;  the secretary of elder affairs, or designee;  the secretary of health and human services, or designee; three consumers, to be appointed by the governor; a member from the Massachusetts Medical Society, so-called; a member from Massachusetts Pharmacists Association, so-called; a member from the Massachusetts Independent Pharmacists Association, so-called; a member from the Massachusetts Society of Health-System Pharmacists, so-called; a member from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, so-called; a member from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, so-called; a member from Blue Cross Blue Shield, so-called; a member from Tufts Health Plan, so-called; a member from Commonwealth Communities, so called; and a member from Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, so-called.  The appointed members shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. The state pharmacy council shall meet at least quarterly.

Section 2.  The state pharmacy council shall act to coordinate the agencies within the executive office of health and human services and the division of insurance in their effort to lower prescription drug costs for the state.  The state pharmacy council shall be responsible for ensuring the ongoing communication and coordination between agencies and the agencies’ communications with the legislature, while having a vested interest in achieving savings in prescription drug spending.  The state pharmacy council shall explore improvements in program costs, access, and quality.

Section 3.  The state pharmacy council shall review legislation and regulations relating to programs and operations relative to pharmaceuticals and shall make recommendations concerning the effect of such legislation or regulation. Said council shall recommend policies which will contribute to lowering prescription drug costs in the state. Said council shall recommend policies for the conduct, supervision or coordination of relationships between state and county agencies, other state and local government agencies, federal agencies and nongovernmental entities with respect to all matters relating to prescription drugs in the state.