ASSEMBLY, No. 445

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman ROMA

An Act to amend and supplement "An Act making appropriations for the support of the State Government and the several public purposes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1994 and regulating the disbursement thereof," approved June 29, 1993 (P.L.1993, c.155).

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The following language provision in section 1 of P.L.1993, c.155 is amended to read as follows:

GENERAL FUND

GRANTS-IN-AID

54 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

20 Physical and Mental Health

24 Special Health Services

7540 Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services

Grants-In-Aid

[Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1975, c.194 (C.30:4D-22) to the contrary, the copayment in the "Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled" program shall be $5.00. This copayment is effective on all prescriptions filled on or after July 1, 1992.]

    2. The following language provision in section 1 of P.L.1993, c.155 is amended to read as follows:

CASINO REVENUE FUND

GRANTS-IN-AID

54 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

20 Physical and Mental Health

24 Special Health Services

7540 Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services--

Grants-In-Aid

[Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1975, c.194 (C.30:4D-22) to the contrary, the copayment in the "Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled" program shall be $5.00. This copayment is effective on all prescriptions on or after July 1, 1992.]

    3. In addition to the amounts appropriated in P.L.1993, c.155 and the general provisions contained therein, there is appropriated the following sum for the purpose specified:

GENERAL FUND

GRANTS-IN-AID

54 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

20 Physical and Mental Health

24 Special Health Services

7540 Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services

Grants-In-Aid

    24-7540 Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged

                        and Disabled.................................... $18,000,000

    Grants:

            Pharmaceutical Assistance to the

                        Aged--Claims................. ($18,000,000)

    4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill eliminates language from the Fiscal Year 1994 appropriations act (P.L.1993, c.155) which would maintain copayments for the "Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled" (PAAD) program at $5.00. The PAAD copayment was raised to $5.00 in the Fiscal Year 1993 appropriations act. By eliminating the language, the PAAD copayment would be returned to its statutory level of $2.00. In order to provide the funding needed to support this reduction, the bill appropriates an additional $18 million from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services.

Reduces PAAD copayment from $5.00 to $2.00; appropriates additional $18 million for PAAD.