Oklahoma § 56-1010.22 - Establishment of program – Services to be offered –

§ 56-1010.22. Establishment of program – Services to be offered –

Target population.

A. The Department of Human Services shall establish a program

through which health care providers and members of the public can

obtain information about manufacturer-sponsored prescription drug

assistance programs and shall provide such information to

pharmacies, physicians and other appropriate health care providers,

and to the general public. The Department shall ensure that the

program has staff available who can, at a minimum:

1. Determine whether a pharmaceutical program is offered for

the drug or drugs;

2. Determine whether a person is eligible for assistance

through a pharmaceutical program; and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons

3. Assist a person to make application to and enroll in a

pharmaceutical assistance program.

B. Initial implementation of the program shall target senior

citizens and shall utilize the existing toll-free Senior Info-Line

telephone number for senior citizen services.

C. The Department shall implement additional strategies,

subject to available resources and the recommendations of the

Oklahoma Pharmacy Connection Council, to improve access to

prescription drugs for citizens who have no or inadequate health

insurance or other resources for the purchase of medically necessary

prescription drugs.

D. The Department may apply for and accept grants or gifts and

may enter into contracts with other state agencies or private

organizations to assist with the implementation of the Oklahoma

Pharmacy Connection Program including, but not limited to,

contracts, gifts or grants from pharmaceutical manufacturers to

assist with the direct costs of the program, and take such other

action as necessary and appropriate to accomplish the purposes of

and implement the provisions of the Oklahoma Pharmacy Connection

Program.

E. The Department of Human Services shall notify pharmaceutical

companies doing business in Oklahoma of the Oklahoma Pharmacy

Connection Program. Any pharmaceutical company that does business

in this state and that offers a pharmaceutical assistance program

shall notify the Department of Human Services of the existence of

the program, the drugs covered by the program, and all information

necessary to apply for assistance under the program.

Added by Laws 2002, c. 337, § 2, emerg. eff. May 30, 2002.