Mulligan Measure to Improve Pharmaceutical Assistance

May 23, 2001

Des Plaines…The Illinois House voted unanimously this week to approve legislation sponsored by State Representative Rosemary Mulligan
(R-Des Plaines) to form a pharmaceutical assistance program review committee. Mulligan, one of the House sponsors of Senate Bill 1276, hopes to devise constant methods of improving the State of Illinois' pharmaceutical assistance program according to the changing needs of senior citizens.

SB 1276 requires the newly formed Committee to report at least once a year to the state regarding any proposed changes to the program, as well as an estimated cost of those changes. It calls for the inclusion of the following members on the Committee:

• Director of Public Health
• A representative of the Illinois State Medical Society
• A representative of the Illinois State Council of Senior Citizens
• A representative of the Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging
• A representative of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association

"We have a great pharmaceutical program in Illinois but our aim is to make it better," said Mulligan. "The committee will help us better understand the needs of all seniors in Illinois."

Proponents to SB 1276 include AARP and the Illinois State Medical
Society. The bill now heads to the Governor's office to be signed into law.