Colorado Medical Society

Introduced by: William Mandell, DO

Subject: Patient Assistance Based on Income, Drug Benefits

Referred to: Reference Committee on Health Affairs

WHEREAS, the Medicare drug benefit makes Medicare beneficiaries who accept the drug benefit ineligible for patient assistance programs, and

WHEREAS, the pharmaceutical costs have increased by as much as 30% for those drugs on the Medicare drug benefit list, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the CMS request the AMA work with the pharmaceutical companies to make available patient assistance programs for all patients based upon individual need and not upon the presence or absence of a drug benefit plan.

FISCAL IMPACT: None