Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §254, sub-§11-A, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 691, §1 and affected by §6, is amended to read:

11-A. Retention of eligibility. A person who was eligible for the program at any time from August 1, 1998 to July 31, 1999 and who does not meet the requirements of subsection 10 retains eligibility for the program if that person is a member of a household of an eligible person; and

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §254, sub-§12, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 731, Pt. TT, §10, is amended to read:

12. Funds not to lapse. Funds appropriated from the General Fund to carry out the purpose of this section may not lapse but must carry from year to year.; and

Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §254, sub-§13 is enacted to read:

13.__Treatment of benefits.__A manufacturer of prescription drugs that operates or participates in a patient assistance, drug access or drug discount program in this State that provides access to free or reduced-price prescription drugs to a person who receives benefits under this section may not take eligibility under this section into consideration in determining eligibility for the patient assistance, drug access or drug discount program.

SUMMARY

This bill proposes to prohibit a drug manufacturer from considering eligibility for the elderly low-cost drug program when determining eligibility for a patient assistance, drug access or drug discount program.