(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall not impose a cost-sharing requirement for the purchase of prescription drugs on the preferred drug list pursuant to section 17b-274d on a parent or needy caretaker relative otherwise eligible for Medicaid pursuant to section 17b-261. If the commissioner determines a cost-sharing requirement for nonpreferred drugs or other Medicaid services provided to such parent or needy caretaker relative is necessary, the commissioner shall, thirty days before imposing such requirement, notify (1) the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, and (2) such parent or needy caretaker relative. The commissioner shall notify such parent or needy caretaker relative that he or she shall not be denied Medicaid service for inability to meet such cost-sharing requirement.

(b) The commissioner shall not impose cost sharing for nonpreferred prescription drugs if a physician certifies that the nonpreferred drug is medically necessary.

(c) If the commissioner imposes a cost-sharing requirement on a parent or needy caretaker relative otherwise eligible for Medicaid pursuant to section 17b-261, the commissioner shall submit a quarterly report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services on: (1) Any decrease in the number of visits to Medicaid providers by such parent or needy caretaker relative compared to the same time period before the cost-sharing requirement was imposed, and (2) any difference in the average number of visits to Medicaid providers made by such parent or needy caretaker relative compared to other Medicaid recipients of comparable health not subject to a cost-sharing requirement.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 201.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 effective October 31, 2017.