12-R353

2012 -- S 3045 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 06/12/12

 

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PATIENT ACCESS TO MEDICALLY NECESSARY MENTAL HEALTH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, McCaffrey, Ruggerio, Gallo, and Walaska

     Date Introduced: June 05, 2012

 

 

 

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of seven (7) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more

than two (2) of whom shall be from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of

the Senate; one of whom shall be a representative of the Rhode Island Council of Community

Mental Health Organizations, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall

be a representative of the Rhode Island Medical Society, to be appointed by the President of the

Senate; one of whom shall be a pharmacist licensed to practice in the State of Rhode Island, to be

appointed by the President of the Senate; and one of whom shall be a representative of the health

insurance industry, to be appointed by the President of the Senate.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

is entitled to the appointment consents to the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and develop

recommendations regarding current Rhode Island law relating to health insurer drug formulary

exception criteria and the process by which a health insurer is required to cover a non-formulary

medication deemed medically necessary by a physician or other person authorized to prescribe

medication.  The commission study shall include, but not be limited to, consideration of requiring

health insurers to provide coverage for a non-formulary medication, regardless of whether said

medication meets the nonprofit medical service corporation's medical exception criteria, if the

medication has been prescribed as treatment for a mental disorder, including schizophrenia, as

defined by the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

(DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the President of the Senate and organize and shall select a chairperson from amongst

the legislators. 

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

Senate no later than March 5, 2013, and said commission shall expire on May 31, 2013.

     

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LC02780/SUB A

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