A. The Department of Human Services shall establish a program through which health care providers and members of the public can obtain information about manufacturer-sponsored prescription drug assistance programs and shall provide such information to pharmacies, physicians and other appropriate health care providers, and to the general public. The Department shall ensure that the program has staff available who can, at a minimum:

B. Initial implementation of the program shall target senior citizens and shall utilize the existing toll-free Senior Info-Line telephone number for senior citizen services.

C. The Department shall implement additional strategies, subject to available resources and the recommendations of the Oklahoma Pharmacy Connection Council, to improve access to prescription drugs for citizens who have no or inadequate health insurance or other resources for the purchase of medically necessary prescription drugs.

D. The Department may apply for and accept grants or gifts and may enter into contracts with other state agencies or private organizations to assist with the implementation of the Oklahoma Pharmacy Connection Program including, but not limited to, contracts, gifts or grants from pharmaceutical manufacturers to assist with the direct costs of the program, and take such other action as necessary and appropriate to accomplish the purposes of and implement the provisions of the Oklahoma Pharmacy Connection Program.

E. The Department of Human Services shall notify pharmaceutical companies doing business in Oklahoma of the Oklahoma Pharmacy Connection Program. Any pharmaceutical company that does business in this state and that offers a pharmaceutical assistance program shall notify the Department of Human Services of the existence of the program, the drugs covered by the program, and all information necessary to apply for assistance under the program.