Patients will save money on prescription medication for long-term chronic health conditions under legislation signed Tuesday by Gov. Rick Snyder.
"Everyone should have access to high quality, affordable healthcare," Snyder said. "By lowering the costs of prescription drugs we can help provide Michiganders with the opportunity to better manage long-term health conditions."
SB 150, sponsored by state Sen. Margaret O'Brien, helps reduce costs by curbing waste of prescription medications. The bill requires insurers who provide prescription drug coverage to prorate the daily cost-sharing rate for patients who do not use a full 30-day supply. It also creates a program for patients to synchronize multiple prescriptions for a chronic health condition.
The bill is now Public Act 38 of 2016.
Snyder signed an additional 12 bills:
Senate Bill 51, sponsored by state Sen. Ken Horn, designates the portion of I-75 in Genesee County as the "John Wayne "Dusty" Marcum Memorial Highway." The road honors the Flushing native and elite member of Navy SEAL Six who died in Afghanistan on Sept. 12, 2008. It is now PA 39.
SB 444, sponsored by state Sen. Jim Stamas, allows first responders including firefighters, EMTs and hospital staff, to communicate with designated peers and stress management counselors without the fear of being held liable for information shared in confidence following a critical incident. It is now PA 40.
SB 471, sponsored by state Sen. David Robertson, specifies that the entire City of Fenton, including the recently annexed 9.7 acres located in Oakland County, is part of the Fourth Division of the 67th Judicial District. It is now PA 41.
SB 472 and 473, sponsored by state Sen. Wayne Schmidt and Sen. Peter MacGregor, respectively, enact technical fixes to the tobacco escrow enforcement rules. The bills provide transparency and require manufacturers of tobacco products who were not part of a former class action settlement to make quarterly, as opposed to annual, payments on untaxable items to the state. They are now PAs 42 and 43.
SB 578, sponsored by state Sen. Darwin Booher, eliminates the distribution of redundant borrower's rights and credit counseling information booklets to people applying for and closing on a mortgage loan. The bill helps reduce confusion and decrease printing costs by limiting the information provided to customers while still meeting the requirements required under the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. It is now PA 44.
SB 644, sponsored by Sen. Jim Stamas, allows municipal health organizations to join with local nonprofit health corporations in counties with a population between 24,000 and 30,000. In order to be classified as a nonprofit the merger must take place by June 30, 2017. It is now PA 45.
HB 4314, sponsored by state Rep. Sam Singh, extends the definition of a motor vehicle moving violation to include vehicle-related injuries and deaths that occur on places open to the general public, including parking lots and frozen lakes. It is now PA 46.
HB 4408, sponsored by state Rep. Kathy Crawford, extends the license cycle for Michigan veterinarians and veterinary technicians from two to three years. It also adds a continuing education requirement to keep veterinarians and veterinarian technicians updated on current treatments, procedures and medicines. It is now PA 47.
HB 4458, sponsored by state Rep. Jim Runestad, dissolves the Complete Streets Advisory Council which has completed its work and recommendations. It is now PA 48.
HB 4999, sponsored by state Rep. Edward McBroom, allows Michigan residents to fill prescriptions written by out-of-state veterinarians and will revise fees to keep the veterinary and veterinary technician licensing program self-sustaining. It is now PA 49.
HB 5105, sponsored by state Rep. Al Pscholka, reduces the amount of General Fund dollars necessary to support Michigan's Medicaid program. The bill extends the sunset on the state's ability to collect Health Insurance Claims Assessment (HICA) revenue through July 1, 2020. It is now PA 50.
For additional information on this and other legislation, visit www.legislature.mi.gov.
Published: Thu, Mar 17, 2016
