(a) In addition to participating in the program provided for under Article 24 (commencing with Section 4425) of Chapter 9 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, any Medicare beneficiary may participate in the program provided for under this division.
(b) The department shall conduct an outreach program to inform Medicare beneficiaries of their right to participate in this program. Medicare beneficiaries shall be informed of the method by which the prescription drug discount is determined and that the discount shall periodically fluctuate. No outreach material shall contain a likeness of an elected state official.
(c) In order to participate in the program provided for under this division, a Medicare beneficiary shall be required to register on a one-time basis. Registration may be made at any pharmacy participating in this program. In order to register for the program, the Medicare beneficiary shall pay to the pharmacy an administrative fee, which the pharmacy shall retain, in an amount to be established by the department. Upon payment of this fee, the pharmacy shall issue a program registration card, which shall be prepared and provided to the pharmacy by the department, to the Medicare beneficiary.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 542, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2003.)