FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 5, 2007

New Statute Extends Sunshine Law Coverage to

Panel Overseeing Medicaid Drugs

        (HARRISBURG) – Legislation that extends Sunshine Law coverage to the committee overseeing drugs for Medical Assistance recipients has been signed into law, Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware), Chairman of the Senate Public Health & Welfare Committee, announced today.

Sen. Erickson inserted an amendment into House Bill 1367 which will require that the Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee in the Department of Public Welfare conduct its meetings in accordance with the state Sunshine Act.  As a result, all meetings of that committee, including those at which votes are taken, must be open to the public, with advance public notice.

The Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee, whose members are selected by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, reviews and makes recommendations on which drugs will be available to Medical Assistance recipients. These recommendations can have dramatic consequences both for the health of patients and the cost to taxpayers.

“My Senate colleagues and I have worked throughout this session to make government more open and accountable. Certainly, any stateappointed entity that influences which drugs are available and paid for under the Medical Assistance Program should conduct its business under rules that will ensure public notice and input,” Sen. Erickson said. “The Senate has also passed legislation to increase the fines for violating the Sunshine Law, and we are putting a host of legislative information online for public viewing. This is one more step in our ongoing effort to make government more transparent.”

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