Prescription Drug Program. Initiative Statute.

Creates prescription drug discount program available to all Californians, regardless of income or insurance status. Authorizes Board of Administration of Public Employees Retirement System to negotiate contracts for price discounts on prescription drugs and allows enrollees to purchase prescription drugs at discounted prices from participating pharmacies. Requires continuous open enrollment and outreach activities. Imposes annual licensing fees on prescription drug manufacturers and their marketing representatives. Requires that money collected from licensing fees and fines pay for costs of administering program up to specified amount. Compels licensees to disclose health risks of prescription drugs to physicians. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Ongoing state costs, probably less than $10 million annually, for administration and outreach activities by PERS and the Board of Pharmacy for new pharmacy assistance and licensing programs established by this initiative. These ongoing costs would probably be offset by licensing revenues and fines. Unknown savings on state and county health program costs due to the availability of drug discounts