NO. 91.  AN ACT RELATING TO EXTENDING VPHARM COVERAGE FOR INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE PART D.

(H.851)

It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:

Sec. 1.  Sec. 2(b) of No. 84 of the Acts of 2005 Adj. Sess. (2006) is amended to read:

(b)  Coverage under this act shall be available until the operational problems with Medicare Part D have been resolved or at 11:59 p.m. on February 10 28, 2006, whichever occurs first.  The office of Vermont health access may extend coverage past this date if federal operational problems continue and the appropriation under Sec. 3 of this act is sufficient.

Sec. 2.  Sec. 3 of No. 84 of the Acts of the 2005 Adj. Sess. (2006) is amended to read:

Sec. 3.  APPROPRIATION

(a)  The sum of $7 million $11,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Agency of Human Services agency of human services to provide coverage of pharmaceuticals under this act.  Notwithstanding section 308b of Title 32, the sum of $11,000,000 shall be reduced from the human services caseload reserve for this purpose.  Any unused funds appropriated for this act shall revert to the general fund and shall not be used for any other purpose.  Any funds received by the state as repayment for the coverage of pharmaceuticals under VPharm as provided for in this act and for any additional administrative expenses related to this act shall be deposited into the general fund.  Any unused and the repaid amounts up to $11,000,000 shall be reserved in the human services caseload reserve.

(b)  The sum of $400,000.00 $400,000 is appropriated from the general Global Commitment fund to the department of disabilities, aging, and independent living to increase funding for the area agencies on aging for assistance to individuals in addressing Medicare Part D enrollment and operational issues.

Sec. 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE

This act shall take effect upon passage.

Approved:  March 2, 2006