(a) As part of the program provided in this division, the department may establish a system to provide a Medicare beneficiary access to a drug discount program operated by a drug manufacturer that would provide greater prescription drug discounts than are otherwise available through the program provided in this division. The program registration card issued pursuant to Section 130401 shall serve as the single point of entry to the private drug discount programs of participating manufacturers.
(b) To establish the system described in subdivision (a), the department may negotiate a contract with a drug manufacturer that operates a prescription drug discount program. To assist in these negotiations, the department may contract with a public or private entity.
(c) (1) A Medicare beneficiary shall not in any circumstance be required to participate in, or to disclose information that would determine his or her eligibility to participate in, these private drug discount programs in order to participate in the program provided in this division.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a Medicare beneficiary may voluntarily disclose or provide information that may be necessary to determine eligibility for participation in a private drug discount program.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 542, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2003.)