Revision: Jan. 24, 2017, 10:20 a.m.
SB 64 - AS INTRODUCED
2017 SESSION
17-0830
01/05
SENATE BILL 64
AN ACT establishing a committee to study medication synchronization.
SPONSORS: Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Gray, Dist 6; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Rep. Kotowski, Merr. 24; Rep. LeBrun, Hills. 32; Rep. J. Edwards, Rock. 4; Rep. M. McCarthy, Hills. 29; Rep. M. MacKay, Hills. 30
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
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This bill establishes a committee to study medication synchronization.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
17-0830
01/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen
AN ACT establishing a committee to study medication synchronization.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Statement of Intent. The general court recognizes that one of the reasons for rising health care expenditures is the cost associated with treating chronic illnesses. For many chronic illnesses, medications are the most cost-effective treatment, but patients routinely miss doses, fail to refill a prescription, or stop taking medications without consulting a health care professional. All of these actions constitute medication nonadherence with the associated nationwide economic costs are to be estimated at $290 billion annually. The general court notes that medication synchronization is increasingly being recognized as a tool that can improve adherence when patients are on a regular chronic medication regimen. Medication synchronization refers to the process of a pharmacy coordinating all of a patient's chronic prescription medications to be filled on the same date each month. Medication synchronization improves adherence and provides a more coordinated level of care resulting in healthier patients, and more effective delivery of care which can reduce overall costs to payers and the health care system.
2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study medication synchronization.
3 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
I. The committee shall study medication synchronization as a tool which can improve adherence to medications when patients are on a regular chronic medication regimen. The committee's study shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) The effectiveness of pharmacies and pharmacists to establish and implement programs which would allow patients to synchronize prescription drug refill dates.
(b) The barriers which impede pharmacies and consumers from synchronizing prescription drug refill date.
(c) A determination relative to the education of patients to better use synchronization.
(d) How to encourage more pharmacies to offer synchronization programs.
II. The committee may solicit input from any person or entity the committee deems relevant to its study.
5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
6 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2017.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.