NC Senate Bill 324 Approved - Thank You! |
June 30, 2009We are happy to announce that Senate Bill 324 was signed by Governor Purdue yesterday and officially removed the sunset that was due to expire at midnight tonight. Our thanks go out to all the individuals and company representatives who advocated on behalf of the bleeding disorders community in NC to help move this bill through the process to approval. As one of our talking points at the recent NC Legislative Day, we are pleased that our representatives helped to support this bill. As North Carolina wrestles with budgetary problems, the standard of care for the bleeding disorders community could be threatened by restricting access to clotting factor products. The passage of this bill ensures access to the full range of clotting factors for Medicaid beneficiaries. The state passed the original legislation for this in 2003 and again in 2005 but each bill had an expiration date with the most recent being July 1, 2009. With the support of Senator Joe Sam Queen, who sponsored SB 324 to remove the sunset, the legislature moved to protect the quality of hemophilia care and access to treatment that is most appropriate for medical needs. SB 324: AN ACT TO REMOVE THE SUNSET ON AN ACT TO EXEMPT FROM PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM ANTIHEMOPHILIC DRUGS PRESCRIBED FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEMOPHILIA AND BLOOD DISORDERS. ORIGINAL ACT: § 108A-68.1. (Expires July 1, 2009) Certain prescription drugs exempt from prior authorization requirements. Prior authorization shall not be required or utilized for any antihemophilic factor drugs prescribed for the treatment of hemophilia and blood disorders where there is no generically equivalent drug available. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Secretary from implementing a disease management program. (2003-179, s. 1; 2005-83, s. 1.) Thank you for making your voices heard! |
|
— Susan Cowell |