UNIFORM PRESCRIPTION DRUG INFORMATION CARD OR TECHNOLOGY
House Bill 4607
Sponsor: Rep. Andrew Raczkowski
Committee: Insurance and Financial Services
Complete to 5-4-02
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4607 AS INTRODUCED 4-18-02
The bill, which would take effect January 1, 2002, would amend the Insurance Code (MCL 500.2213c) to require the commissioner of the Office of Financial and Insurance Services (OFIS) to develop a uniform prescription drug information card or uniform prescription drug information technology to be used by health plans that either provided coverage for prescription drugs or devices or administered a plan that provided coverage for prescription drugs or devices. The card or other technology would have to contain information about a person's allergies, co-pays, date of birth, effective date of coverage, and dependents.
The card or technology would have to be in a format based on the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs' approved format and include all of the "required and conditional or situational fields." Further, the card or technology would have to conform either to the pharmacy identification card or technology implementation guide produced by the national council or to a national format approved by the commissioner that included information about allergies, co-pay, date of birth, effective date, and dependents.
The card or technology would be issued by a health plan upon enrollment and reissued upon any change in coverage that would affect data on the card or technology. The term "health plan" would refer to the following:
· a commercial insurance company providing benefits under an expense-incurred hospital, medical, or surgical policy or certificate, but not to any policy or certificate that provided coverage only for vision, dental, specific diseases, or accidents; a hospital indemnity policy or certificate; a disability income policy or certificate; coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance; or medical payments under automobile, homeowners, or worker's compensation insurance;
· a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) providing hospital, medical, or surgical benefits;
· a health maintenance organization (HMO);
· Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan; or
· a third party administrator (TPA).
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.