What's happening
This bill creates a program allowing New York state employees and retirees to fill prescriptions via Canadian mail order companies to reduce medication costs.
Why it matters
Could significantly lower out-of-pocket costs. for prescription drugs for state employees, retirees, and their dependents by providing access to typically less expensive Canadian medications.
Introduces a competitive bidding process. for selecting Canadian mail order companies, which could increase transparency and encourage price competition, potentially leading to further cost savings for the state and its employees.
Maintains protection for union agreements. by ensuring the program does not override or weaken any existing collective bargaining terms, addressing concerns about employee rights and negotiated benefits.
Expands consumer choice and convenience. by offering multiple mail order options, which may improve access to medications, especially for those living in areas with limited pharmacy availability.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Prescription Drug Costs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to governmental employees
- Referred to governmental employees
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6114
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 23, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Employees
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to the New York state prescription medication cost containment program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The civil service law is amended by adding a new section 159-d to read as follows:
§ 159-d. New York state prescription medication cost containment program. 1. The president, as defined in subdivision two of section two of this chapter is authorized and directed to create the New York state prescription medication cost containment program.
2. Such program shall offer New York state residents who are employed in the civil service of the state or New York state residents who are retired from state service and are participating in the New York state health insurance plan (NYSHIP) and their dependents, several options to fill medical prescriptions through a Canadian mail order company. Such companies shall be selected through competitive bidding process, to be designed and implemented by the president, as defined in subdivision two of section two of this chapter. Canadian drug suppliers shall include, but shall not be limited to all manufacturers and distributors by Canada's researched based pharmaceutical companies.
§ 2. Nothing contained in this act shall supersede or diminish the terms of a collective bargaining agreement.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07308-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.