Section 3761-701 - Declaration of policyThe General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The Commonwealth, through assistance programs enacted for the benefit of its citizens, is the largest single payor of prescription medications in Pennsylvania.(2) In order to ensure that the Commonwealth, in expending money on behalf of its citizens, is not unduly harmed by being required to pay a price for pharmaceutical products purchased from manufacturers in excess of that established for other purchasers and reimbursers of these products and to ensure that the Commonwealth can efficiently and prudently expend its money and maximize its ability to provide for the health and welfare of as many of its needy citizens as possible, it is reasonable, necessary and in the public interest to require that pharmaceutical manufacturers offer a discount to the Commonwealth for pharmaceutical products purchased or reimbursed through State agencies.(3) It is in the public interest for pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide the Commonwealth with data relating to the price of pharmaceutical products sold by the manufacturer to public bodies, hospitals, for-profit or nonprofit organizations, other manufacturers or wholesalers doing business in this Commonwealth in order to ensure that the Commonwealth can determine that it is being provided with the best prices offered by the manufacturer.(4) On a national level, there has been a recognition that the need for discounts to State Medicaid agencies, which reimburse for a high volume of pharmaceutical products, exists.(5) On a State level, the General Assembly recognizes that it is in the best interest of its citizens to provide pharmaceutical assistance in a reasonable and cost-efficient manner.(6) Drug price inflation has caused an increase in the amount of public funds expended by PACE and General Assistance.1971, Aug. 26, P.L. 351, No. 91, § 701, added 1996, Nov. 21, P.L. 741, No. 134, § 2, imd. effective.