Sponsored by:
Assemblyman THOMAS P. GIBLIN
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle
SYNOPSIS
Establishes insulin assistance program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning insulin and supplementing Title 24 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section,
“Qualified individual” means an individual who does not have health insurance or other health coverage and who has been approved by the Commissioner of Human Services to participate in the insulin assistance program established pursuant to this section.
"Pharmacy practice site" means a pharmacy practice site licensed pursuant to P.L.2003, c.280 (C.45:14-40 et seq.).
b. The Department of Human Services shall establish an insulin assistance program, if necessary funds are available, to fully reimburse pharmacy practice sites for insulin products and related supplies that are dispensed by the pharmacy practice site to qualified individuals who possess a valid prescription for the dispensed insulin product.
c. A pharmacy practice site may register with the Commissioner of Human Services and agree to reimbursement and other contract terms to participate in the insulin assistance program. A participating pharmacy practice site shall dispense insulin products and related supplies to qualified individuals who present a valid prescription. Insulin products and related supplies shall be dispensed at no cost to a qualified individual.
d. In order to participate in the insulin assistance program, an individual shall apply with the Department of Human Services in a manner determined by the department. Participation in the insulin assistance program shall be contingent on available department funds and on the individual documenting a financial inability to purchase insulin products for which the individual has a valid prescription. A qualified individual may participate in the inulin assistance program for a period of 90 days. An individual may reapply with the Department of Human Services to participate in the insulin assistance program for additional 90-day periods.
2. The Commissioner of Human Services shall adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes an insulin assistance program in the Department of Human Services (DHS).
Under the bill, the DHS is to establish an insulin assistance program, if necessary funds are available, to fully reimburse pharmacies for insulin products and related supplies that are dispensed by the pharmacy to qualified individuals who possess a valid prescription for the dispensed insulin product.
The bill provides that a pharmacy may register with the Commissioner of Human Services and agree to reimbursement and other contract terms to participate in the insulin assistance program. A participating pharmacy is to dispense insulin products and related supplies to qualified individuals who present a valid prescription. Insulin products and related supplies are to be dispensed at no cost to a qualified individual. Under the bill, “qualified individual” means an individual who does not have health insurance or other health coverage and who has been approved by the Commissioner of Human Services to participate in the insulin assistance program.
In order to participate in the insulin assistance program, an individual is to apply with the DHS in a manner determined by the DHS. Participation in the insulin assistance program is to be contingent on available DHS funds and on the individual documenting a financial inability to purchase insulin products for which the individual has a valid prescription. A qualified individual may participate in the inulin assistance program for a period of 90 days. An individual may reapply with the DHS to participate in the insulin assistance program for additional 90-day periods.