(a) The department shall encourage a participating manufacturer to maintain those private discount drug programs that are comparable to or more extensive than those provided prior to the enactment of this division. To the extent possible, the department shall encourage a participating manufacturer to simplify the application and eligibility processes for its private discount drug program.

(b) The department may execute agreements with drug manufacturers and other private patient assistance programs to provide a single point of entry for eligibility determination and claims processing for drugs available through those programs to the extent permitted by state and federal law.

(c) The department shall develop a system to provide a program participant under this division with the best discounts on prescription drugs that are available to the participant through this program or through a drug manufacturer or other private patient assistance program.

(d) (1) The department may require an applicant to provide additional information to determine the applicant’s eligibility for other discount card and patient assistance programs.

(2) The department shall not require an applicant to participate in a drug manufacturer patient assistance program or to disclose information that would determine the applicant’s eligibility to participate in a drug manufacturer patient assistance program in order to participate in the California Discount Prescription Drug Program.

(e) In order to verify that California residents are being served by drug manufacturer patient assistance programs, the department shall require drug manufacturers to provide the department annually with all of the following information:

(1) The total value of the manufacturer’s drugs provided at no or very low cost to California residents during the previous year.

(2) The total number of prescriptions or 30-day supplies of the manufacturer’s drugs provided at no or very low cost to California residents during the previous year.

(f) The California Discount Prescription Drug Program card issued pursuant to this division shall serve as a single point of entry for drugs available pursuant to subdivision (a), and shall meet all legal requirements for a health benefit card.

(Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 619, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2007. Provisions operative and implemented on or after July 1, 2010, as prescribed in Section 130500. Conditionally inoperative on February 1, 2015. Repealed conditionally on January 1, 2016, pursuant to Section 130500.)