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CALIFORNIA STATUTES AND CODES
SECTIONS 120950-120971
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 120950-120971
120950. The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following: (a) State-of-art knowledge regarding treatment of people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) indicates that active HIV infection (AIDS) can be a manageable, though chronic, condition with the use of drugs such as zidovudine (AZT), aerosolized pentamidine, and ganciclovir. AIDS experts across the nation agree that early intervention with these drugs can prolong life, minimize the related occurrences of more serious illnesses, reduce more costly treatments, and maximize the HIV-infected person's vitality and productivity. (b) For reasons of compassion and cost effectiveness, the State of California has a compelling interest in ensuring that its citizens infected with the HIV virus have access to these drugs. (c) The department subsidizes the cost of these drugs for persons who do not have private health coverage, are not eligible for Medi-Cal, or cannot afford to purchase the drug privately. The subsidy program is funded through state and federal sources. (d) Congress is expected to place limitations on the federal subsidy program that will jeopardize access to these life-prolonging drugs for people whose income is higher than federal income eligibility cap but lower than the state's income eligibility cap. (e) It is critical that suffering persons with limited income have access to life-prolonging drugs. It is also critical that persons currently eligible for the subsidy program remain eligible regardless of changes that may result from the congressional action and the enactment of this chapter. However, it is appropriate that people who can afford to pay a portion of the cost of treatment be obligated to share the cost of these drugs. 120955. (a) (1) To the extent that state and federal funds are appropriated in the annual Budget Act for these purposes, the director shall establish and may administer a program to provide drug treatments to persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the etiologic agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). If the director makes a formal determination that, in any fiscal year, funds appropriated for the program will be insufficient to provide all of those drug treatments to existing eligible persons for the fiscal year and that a suspension of the implementation of the program is necessary, the director may suspend eligibility determinations and enrollment in the program for the period of time necessary to meet the needs of existing eligible persons in the program. (2) The director, in consultation with the AIDS Drug Assistance Program Medical Advisory Committee, shall develop, maintain, and update as necessary a list of drugs to be provided under this program. The list shall be exempt from the requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11370), and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), and shall not be subject to the review and approval of the Office of Administrative Law. In addition, the director shall notify the fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature of any additions, deletions, or restrictions to the list within 15 business days of the action. At a minimum, this notification shall describe the specific change to the formulary, the reason for the action taken, the estimated number of people it may affect, and any estimate of costs or savings where applicable. (b) The director may grant funds to a county public health department through standard agreements to administer this program in that county. To maximize the recipients' access to drugs covered by this program, the director shall urge the county health department in counties granted these funds to decentralize distribution of the drugs to the recipients. (c) The director shall establish a rate structure for reimbursement for the cost of each drug included in the program. Rates shall not be less than the actual cost of the drug. However, the director may purchase a listed drug directly from the manufacturer and negotiate the most favorable bulk price for that drug. (d) Manufacturers of the drugs on the list shall pay the department a rebate equal to the rebate that would be applicable to the drug under Section 1927(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396r-8(c)) plus an additional rebate to be negotiated by each manufacturer with the department, except that no rebates shall be paid to the department under this section on drugs for which the department has received a rebate under Section 1927(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396r-8(c)) or that have been purchased on behalf of county health departments or other eligible entities at discount prices made available under Section 256b of Title 42 of the United States Code. (e) The department shall submit an invoice, not less than two times per year, to each manufacturer for the amount of the rebate required by subdivision (d). (f) Drugs may be removed from the list for failure to pay the rebate required by subdivision (d), unless the department determines that removal of the drug from the list would cause substantial medical hardship to beneficiaries. (g) The department may adopt emergency regulations to implement amendments to this chapter made during the 1997-98 Regular Session, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The initial adoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare. Emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days. (h) Reimbursement under this chapter shall not be made for any drugs that are available to the recipient under any other private, state, or federal programs, or under any other contractual or legal entitlements, except that the director may authorize an exemption from this subdivision where exemption would represent a cost savings to the state. (i) The department may also subsidize certain cost-sharing requirements for persons otherwise eligible for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) with existing non-ADAP drug coverage by paying for prescription drugs included on the ADAP formulary within the existing ADAP operational structure up to, but not exceeding, the amount of that cost-sharing obligation. This cost sharing may only be applied in circumstances in which the other payer recognizes the ADAP payment as counting toward the individual's cost-sharing obligation. 120956. (a) The AIDS Drug Assistance Program Rebate Fund is hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury. (b) All rebates collected from drug manufacturers on drugs purchased through the AIDS Drugs Assistance Program (ADAP) implemented pursuant to this chapter and, notwithstanding Section 16305.7 of the Government Code, interest earned on these moneys shall be deposited in the fund exclusively to cover costs related to the purchase of drugs and services provided through ADAP. (c) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the fund shall be continuously appropriated without regard to fiscal year to State Department of Health Services and available for expenditure for those purposes specified under this section. 120960. (a) The department shall establish uniform standards of financial eligibility for the drugs under the program established under this chapter. (b) Nothing in the financial eligibility standards shall prohibit drugs to an otherwise eligible person whose adjusted gross income does not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per year. However, the director may authorize drugs for persons with incomes higher than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per year if the estimated cost of those drugs in one year is expected to exceed 20 percent of the person's adjusted gross income. (c) The department shall establish and may administer a payment schedule to determine the payment obligation of a person receiving drugs. No person shall be obligated for payment whose adjusted gross income is less than four times the federal poverty level. The payment obligation shall be the lesser of the following: (1) Two times the person's annual state income tax liability, less funds expended by the person for health insurance premiums. (2) The cost of drugs. (d) Persons who have been determined to have a payment obligation pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be advised by the department of their right to request a reconsideration of that determination to the department. Written notice of the right to request a reconsideration shall be provided to the person at the time that notification is given that he or she is subject to a payment obligation. The payment determination shall be reconsidered if one or more of the following apply: (1) The determination was based on an incorrect calculation made pursuant to subdivision (b). (2) There has been a substantial change in income since the previous eligibility determination that has resulted in a current income that is inadequate to meet the calculated payment obligation. (3) Unavoidable family or medical expenses that reduce the disposable income and that result in current income that is inadequate to meet the payment obligation. (4) Any other situation that imposes undue financial hardship on the person and would restrict his or her ability to meet the payment obligation. (e) The department may exempt a person, who has been determined to have a payment obligation pursuant to subdivision (c), from the obligation if both of the following criteria are satisfied: (1) One or more of the circumstances specified in subdivision (d) exist. (2) The department has determined that the payment obligation will impose an undue financial hardship on the person. (f) If a person requests reconsideration of the payment obligation determination, the person shall not be obligated to make any payment until the department has completed the reconsideration request pursuant to subdivision (d). If the department denies the exemption, the person shall be obligated to make payments for drugs received while the reconsideration request is pending. (g) A county public health department administering this program pursuant to an agreement with the director pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 120955 shall use no more than 5 percent of total payments it collects pursuant to this section to cover any administrative costs related to eligibility determinations, reporting requirements, and the collection of payments. (h) A county public health department administering this program pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 120955 shall provide all drugs added to the program pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 120955 within 60 days of the action of the director, subject to the repayment obligations specified in subdivision (d) of Section 120965. 120965. (a) Effective March 15, 1991, a person determined eligible for benefits under this chapter shall be subject to the payment obligation specified in subdivision (c) of Section 120960. (b) Persons who are receiving benefits under a HIV drug treatment subsidy program administered by the department prior to March 15, 1991, shall not be subject to the payment obligation specified in subdivision (c) of Section 120960. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if any person is disenrolled from eligibility in a HIV drug treatment subsidy program administered by the department for any reason after March 15, 1991, the subsequent enrollment of that person for benefits under this chapter shall be in accordance with the payment obligation specified in subdivision (c) of Section 120960. (d) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if a drug is added pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 120955, any person determined eligible for benefits under this chapter, regardless of the date of enrollment, shall be subject to the payment obligation specified in subdivision (c) of Section 120960 for the added drug. The payment obligation for any other drug shall be determined in accordance with subdivision (b). 120966. (a) (1) The program established under this chapter shall make available to any eligible person under this chapter any antiviral drug that is approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), prescribed by the beneficiary's medical care provider, and approved by the AIDS Drug Assistance Program Medical Advisory Committee of the Office of AIDS if determined by the State Department of Health Services that the new antiviral drug would be used as an additional treatment option, and anticipated client utilization represents no significant additional cost to the program and does not require the removal of another antiviral drug from the formulary. (2) Any federal Food and Drug Administration-approved antiviral drug that is determined by the State Department of Health Services to represent a significant additional cost to the program shall be made available if, after an analysis is conducted by the department, it determines that the program has an adequate budget to fund the addition of the new drug. (3) The department shall use all reasonable means to ensure that the determination required in paragraph (1) or the analysis required by paragraph (2) are performed as promptly as possible. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any antiviral drug that is approved pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) for addition to the formulary of drugs program established by this chapter shall be available to patients covered by the program established by this chapter within 30 days of the Office of AIDS being notified by the drug's manufacturer of the FDA approval. 120968. The Office of AIDS shall report to the Legislature no later than October 1, 2000, the status of consumer protections for the AIDS drug program established pursuant to this chapter, including a report on the contractor's performance in each of the following areas: (a) Filling of patient prescriptions within 24 hours of submission, and shipping of mail order prescriptions within 48 hours. (b) Subcontracting with any willing provider, including a report on any denials of contracts with providers and the reason for denial. (c) Provision of information regarding program policies, procedures, enrollment procedures, eligibility guidelines, and lists of drugs covered in appropriate literacy levels in English, Spanish, Mandarin/Cantonese, Tagalog, and in other languages as determined by the department. (d) Development of a timely and accessible grievance procedure for clients, promotion of that procedure among clients, and utilization. 120970. In the event the department utilizes a contractor or subcontractor to administer any aspect of the program provided for under this chapter, the following additional client assistance provisions shall apply: (a) The contractor shall, either directly or through subcontracted pharmacy outlets, obtain and dispense the necessary drugs, in their approved forms according to the program formulary, and shall comply with all applicable provisions of the California Pharmacy Law (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code) and regulations adopted thereunder. (b) Upon receipt of notification by the department, the contractor shall be able to accommodate additions or changes in the formulary within 10 business days. (c) Clients shall receive drugs from a participating pharmacy either directly, through the client's designated representative, or mailed or delivered to the client's place of residence by the contractor or subcontractor, whichever the client prefers. Proof of delivery of the prescription to the client's designated address, by signature acknowledging receipt thereof, shall be required for all mail order prescriptions. (d) Clients shall have their prescriptions filled within 24 hours of submission of prescription requests, and mail order prescriptions shall be shipped by the contractor within 48 hours of receipt of client prescription requests. (e) The contractor shall provide 24-hour free telephone and fax machine access for physicians and surgeons, or medical care providers as authorized under state law, to call in or transmit prescriptions for mail order pharmacy. (f) Clients shall have toll-free telephone access during business hours to speak with licensed pharmacists for medication counseling and for mail order prescription requests. The contractor shall provide consultation in the prevention of potentially harmful drug interactions in connection with prescriptions filled for clients. (g) The contractor shall have the ability to subcontract with any willing provider, including independent and sole proprietorship pharmacies, provided the subcontractor accepts the rates offered by the contractor, supplies the contractor with timely information, and complies with necessary contract terms and conditions and other needs of the program as determined by the contractor or the department. (h) It is the intent of the Legislature that the contractor subcontract with all willing providers accepting the terms and conditions provided for in subdivisions (a) to (g), inclusive, in order to facilitate continuity of care for clients under this chapter. (i) All types of information, whether written or oral, concerning a client, made or kept in connection with the administration of this program shall be confidential, and shall not be used or disclosed except for purposes directly connected with the administration of the program. (j) Information regarding program policies and procedures, including enrollment procedures, eligibility guidelines, and lists of drugs covered, shall be made available to clients in appropriate literacy levels in English, Spanish, Mandarin/Cantonese, Tagalog, and in other languages, as determined by the department. (k) The contractor shall develop and maintain a timely and accessible grievance procedure for clients to resolve problems regarding all components of the delivery of drugs under this chapter. 120971. (a) In the event state expenditures for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) are identified by California to be used as a certified public expenditure for the purpose of obtaining federal financial participation under the Medi-Cal program for any purposes, including federal demonstration waivers, the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Public Health shall ensure the integrity of the ADAP in meeting its maintenance-of-effort requirements to receive federal funds and to obtain all ADAP drug rebates to support the ADAP. (b) The State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Public Health shall keep the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature informed of any potential concerns that may arise in the event that state expenditures for the ADAP are used as a certified public expenditure as described in subdivision (a).
SECTION 120950-120971
120950. The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following: (a) State-of-art knowledge regarding treatment of people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) indicates that active HIV infection (AIDS) can be a manageable, though chronic, condition with the use of drugs such as zidovudine (AZT), aerosolized pentamidine, and ganciclovir. AIDS experts across the nation agree that early intervention with these drugs can prolong life, minimize the related occurrences of more serious illnesses, reduce more costly treatments, and maximize the HIV-infected person's vitality and productivity. (b) For reasons of compassion and cost effectiveness, the State of California has a compelling interest in ensuring that its citizens infected with the HIV virus have access to these drugs. (c) The department subsidizes the cost of these drugs for persons who do not have private health coverage, are not eligible for Medi-Cal, or cannot afford to purchase the drug privately. The subsidy program is funded through state and federal sources. (d) Congress is expected to place limitations on the federal subsidy program that will jeopardize access to these life-prolonging drugs for people whose income is higher than federal income eligibility cap but lower than the state's income eligibility cap. (e) It is critical that suffering persons with limited income have access to life-prolonging drugs. It is also critical that persons currently eligible for the subsidy program remain eligible regardless of changes that may result from the congressional action and the enactment of this chapter. However, it is appropriate that people who can afford to pay a portion of the cost of treatment be obligated to share the cost of these drugs. 120955. (a) (1) To the extent that state and federal funds are appropriated in the annual Budget Act for these purposes, the director shall establish and may administer a program to provide drug treatments to persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the etiologic agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). If the director makes a formal determination that, in any fiscal year, funds appropriated for the program will be insufficient to provide all of those drug treatments to existing eligible persons for the fiscal year and that a suspension of the implementation of the program is necessary, the director may suspend eligibility determinations and enrollment in the program for the period of time necessary to meet the needs of existing eligible persons in the program. (2) The director, in consultation with the AIDS Drug Assistance Program Medical Advisory Committee, shall develop, maintain, and update as necessary a list of drugs to be provided under this program. The list shall be exempt from the requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11370), and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), and shall not be subject to the review and approval of the Office of Administrative Law. In addition, the director shall notify the fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature of any additions, deletions, or restrictions to the list within 15 business days of the action. At a minimum, this notification shall describe the specific change to the formulary, the reason for the action taken, the estimated number of people it may affect, and any estimate of costs or savings where applicable. (b) The director may grant funds to a county public health department through standard agreements to administer this program in that county. To maximize the recipients' access to drugs covered by this program, the director shall urge the county health department in counties granted these funds to decentralize distribution of the drugs to the recipients. (c) The director shall establish a rate structure for reimbursement for the cost of each drug included in the program. Rates shall not be less than the actual cost of the drug. However, the director may purchase a listed drug directly from the manufacturer and negotiate the most favorable bulk price for that drug. (d) Manufacturers of the drugs on the list shall pay the department a rebate equal to the rebate that would be applicable to the drug under Section 1927(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396r-8(c)) plus an additional rebate to be negotiated by each manufacturer with the department, except that no rebates shall be paid to the department under this section on drugs for which the department has received a rebate under Section 1927(c) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396r-8(c)) or that have been purchased on behalf of county health departments or other eligible entities at discount prices made available under Section 256b of Title 42 of the United States Code. (e) The department shall submit an invoice, not less than two times per year, to each manufacturer for the amount of the rebate required by subdivision (d). (f) Drugs may be removed from the list for failure to pay the rebate required by subdivision (d), unless the department determines that removal of the drug from the list would cause substantial medical hardship to beneficiaries. (g) The department may adopt emergency regulations to implement amendments to this chapter made during the 1997-98 Regular Session, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The initial adoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare. Emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days. (h) Reimbursement under this chapter shall not be made for any drugs that are available to the recipient under any other private, state, or federal programs, or under any other contractual or legal entitlements, except that the director may authorize an exemption from this subdivision where exemption would represent a cost savings to the state. (i) The department may also subsidize certain cost-sharing requirements for persons otherwise eligible for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) with existing non-ADAP drug coverage by paying for prescription drugs included on the ADAP formulary within the existing ADAP operational structure up to, but not exceeding, the amount of that cost-sharing obligation. This cost sharing may only be applied in circumstances in which the other payer recognizes the ADAP payment as counting toward the individual's cost-sharing obligation. 120956. (a) The AIDS Drug Assistance Program Rebate Fund is hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury. (b) All rebates collected from drug manufacturers on drugs purchased through the AIDS Drugs Assistance Program (ADAP) implemented pursuant to this chapter and, notwithstanding Section 16305.7 of the Government Code, interest earned on these moneys shall be deposited in the fund exclusively to cover costs related to the purchase of drugs and services provided through ADAP. (c) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the fund shall be continuously appropriated without regard to fiscal year to State Department of Health Services and available for expenditure for those purposes specified under this section. 120960. (a) The department shall establish uniform standards of financial eligibility for the drugs under the program established under this chapter. (b) Nothing in the financial eligibility standards shall prohibit drugs to an otherwise eligible person whose adjusted gross income does not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per year. However, the director may authorize drugs for persons with incomes higher than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per year if the estimated cost of those drugs in one year is expected to exceed 20 percent of the person's adjusted gross income. (c) The department shall establish and may administer a payment schedule to determine the payment obligation of a person receiving drugs. No person shall be obligated for payment whose adjusted gross income is less than four times the federal poverty level. The payment obligation shall be the lesser of the following: (1) Two times the person's annual state income tax liability, less funds expended by the person for health insurance premiums. (2) The cost of drugs. (d) Persons who have been determined to have a payment obligation pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be advised by the department of their right to request a reconsideration of that determination to the department. Written notice of the right to request a reconsideration shall be provided to the person at the time that notification is given that he or she is subject to a payment obligation. The payment determination shall be reconsidered if one or more of the following apply: (1) The determination was based on an incorrect calculation made pursuant to subdivision (b). (2) There has been a substantial change in income since the previous eligibility determination that has resulted in a current income that is inadequate to meet the calculated payment obligation. (3) Unavoidable family or medical expenses that reduce the disposable income and that result in current income that is inadequate to meet the payment obligation. (4) Any other situation that imposes undue financial hardship on the person and would restrict his or her ability to meet the payment obligation. (e) The department may exempt a person, who has been determined to have a payment obligation pursuant to subdivision (c), from the obligation if both of the following criteria are satisfied: (1) One or more of the circumstances specified in subdivision (d) exist. (2) The department has determined that the payment obligation will impose an undue financial hardship on the person. (f) If a person requests reconsideration of the payment obligation determination, the person shall not be obligated to make any payment until the department has completed the reconsideration request pursuant to subdivision (d). If the department denies the exemption, the person shall be obligated to make payments for drugs received while the reconsideration request is pending. (g) A county public health department administering this program pursuant to an agreement with the director pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 120955 shall use no more than 5 percent of total payments it collects pursuant to this section to cover any administrative costs related to eligibility determinations, reporting requirements, and the collection of payments. (h) A county public health department administering this program pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 120955 shall provide all drugs added to the program pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 120955 within 60 days of the action of the director, subject to the repayment obligations specified in subdivision (d) of Section 120965. 120965. (a) Effective March 15, 1991, a person determined eligible for benefits under this chapter shall be subject to the payment obligation specified in subdivision (c) of Section 120960. (b) Persons who are receiving benefits under a HIV drug treatment subsidy program administered by the department prior to March 15, 1991, shall not be subject to the payment obligation specified in subdivision (c) of Section 120960. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if any person is disenrolled from eligibility in a HIV drug treatment subsidy program administered by the department for any reason after March 15, 1991, the subsequent enrollment of that person for benefits under this chapter shall be in accordance with the payment obligation specified in subdivision (c) of Section 120960. (d) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if a drug is added pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 120955, any person determined eligible for benefits under this chapter, regardless of the date of enrollment, shall be subject to the payment obligation specified in subdivision (c) of Section 120960 for the added drug. The payment obligation for any other drug shall be determined in accordance with subdivision (b). 120966. (a) (1) The program established under this chapter shall make available to any eligible person under this chapter any antiviral drug that is approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), prescribed by the beneficiary's medical care provider, and approved by the AIDS Drug Assistance Program Medical Advisory Committee of the Office of AIDS if determined by the State Department of Health Services that the new antiviral drug would be used as an additional treatment option, and anticipated client utilization represents no significant additional cost to the program and does not require the removal of another antiviral drug from the formulary. (2) Any federal Food and Drug Administration-approved antiviral drug that is determined by the State Department of Health Services to represent a significant additional cost to the program shall be made available if, after an analysis is conducted by the department, it determines that the program has an adequate budget to fund the addition of the new drug. (3) The department shall use all reasonable means to ensure that the determination required in paragraph (1) or the analysis required by paragraph (2) are performed as promptly as possible. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any antiviral drug that is approved pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) for addition to the formulary of drugs program established by this chapter shall be available to patients covered by the program established by this chapter within 30 days of the Office of AIDS being notified by the drug's manufacturer of the FDA approval. 120968. The Office of AIDS shall report to the Legislature no later than October 1, 2000, the status of consumer protections for the AIDS drug program established pursuant to this chapter, including a report on the contractor's performance in each of the following areas: (a) Filling of patient prescriptions within 24 hours of submission, and shipping of mail order prescriptions within 48 hours. (b) Subcontracting with any willing provider, including a report on any denials of contracts with providers and the reason for denial. (c) Provision of information regarding program policies, procedures, enrollment procedures, eligibility guidelines, and lists of drugs covered in appropriate literacy levels in English, Spanish, Mandarin/Cantonese, Tagalog, and in other languages as determined by the department. (d) Development of a timely and accessible grievance procedure for clients, promotion of that procedure among clients, and utilization. 120970. In the event the department utilizes a contractor or subcontractor to administer any aspect of the program provided for under this chapter, the following additional client assistance provisions shall apply: (a) The contractor shall, either directly or through subcontracted pharmacy outlets, obtain and dispense the necessary drugs, in their approved forms according to the program formulary, and shall comply with all applicable provisions of the California Pharmacy Law (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code) and regulations adopted thereunder. (b) Upon receipt of notification by the department, the contractor shall be able to accommodate additions or changes in the formulary within 10 business days. (c) Clients shall receive drugs from a participating pharmacy either directly, through the client's designated representative, or mailed or delivered to the client's place of residence by the contractor or subcontractor, whichever the client prefers. Proof of delivery of the prescription to the client's designated address, by signature acknowledging receipt thereof, shall be required for all mail order prescriptions. (d) Clients shall have their prescriptions filled within 24 hours of submission of prescription requests, and mail order prescriptions shall be shipped by the contractor within 48 hours of receipt of client prescription requests. (e) The contractor shall provide 24-hour free telephone and fax machine access for physicians and surgeons, or medical care providers as authorized under state law, to call in or transmit prescriptions for mail order pharmacy. (f) Clients shall have toll-free telephone access during business hours to speak with licensed pharmacists for medication counseling and for mail order prescription requests. The contractor shall provide consultation in the prevention of potentially harmful drug interactions in connection with prescriptions filled for clients. (g) The contractor shall have the ability to subcontract with any willing provider, including independent and sole proprietorship pharmacies, provided the subcontractor accepts the rates offered by the contractor, supplies the contractor with timely information, and complies with necessary contract terms and conditions and other needs of the program as determined by the contractor or the department. (h) It is the intent of the Legislature that the contractor subcontract with all willing providers accepting the terms and conditions provided for in subdivisions (a) to (g), inclusive, in order to facilitate continuity of care for clients under this chapter. (i) All types of information, whether written or oral, concerning a client, made or kept in connection with the administration of this program shall be confidential, and shall not be used or disclosed except for purposes directly connected with the administration of the program. (j) Information regarding program policies and procedures, including enrollment procedures, eligibility guidelines, and lists of drugs covered, shall be made available to clients in appropriate literacy levels in English, Spanish, Mandarin/Cantonese, Tagalog, and in other languages, as determined by the department. (k) The contractor shall develop and maintain a timely and accessible grievance procedure for clients to resolve problems regarding all components of the delivery of drugs under this chapter. 120971. (a) In the event state expenditures for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) are identified by California to be used as a certified public expenditure for the purpose of obtaining federal financial participation under the Medi-Cal program for any purposes, including federal demonstration waivers, the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Public Health shall ensure the integrity of the ADAP in meeting its maintenance-of-effort requirements to receive federal funds and to obtain all ADAP drug rebates to support the ADAP. (b) The State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Public Health shall keep the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature informed of any potential concerns that may arise in the event that state expenditures for the ADAP are used as a certified public expenditure as described in subdivision (a).
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