ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                                Ch. 4

Approved April 8, 2003.

CHAPTER 4
(House Bill 211)

AN ACT concerning

Short-Term Prescription Drug Subsidy Plan - Enrollment

FOR the purpose of altering a certain limitation on enrollment in the Short-Term
Prescription Drug Subsidy Plan; making this Act an emergency measure; and
generally relating to enrollment in the Short-Term Prescription Drug Subsidy
Plan.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Health - General
Section 15-603(a)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2000 Replacement Volume and 2002 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Health - General

15-603.

(a) The Plan provided under this subtitle shall:

(1)     Subject to the moneys available in the Fund, provide benefits to [not
more than 30,000 enrollees at any one time] THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR ENROLLMENT IN THE PROGRAM;

(2)     Set the monthly premium charged an enrollee at $10;

(3)     Not require a deductible; and

(4)     Limit the co-pay charged an enrollee to:

(i) $10 for a prescription for a generic drug;

(ii) $20 for a prescription for a preferred brand name drug; and

(iii) $35 for a prescription for a nonpreferred brand name drug.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety,
has been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of all the members
elected to each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from
the date it is enacted.

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