MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                      1023

Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1969.

Approved May 2, 1969.

CHAPTER 410
(House Bill 346)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 42 (a) of
Article 43 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1968 Supplement),
title "Health," subtitle "Miscellaneous Provisions," providing that
the Department of Health, in conjunction with certain advisory
committees, shall determine which drugs shall be listed in a for-
mulary system for purposes of the Maryland Medicaid Program;
requiring the Department to publish this formulary list including
generic drugs having clinical equivalency; and providing a reim-
bursement form for drugs prescribed under the Medicaid Program
in Maryland.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 42 (a) of Article 43 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1968 Supplement), title "Health," subtitle "Miscellaneous Provi-
sions," be and the same is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with
amendments, to read as follows:

42(a).

The State Board of Health and Mental Hygiene shall (1) adminis-
ter a program of comprehensive medical and other care in the State
of Maryland for indigent and medically indigent persons, or either
of such classes; for this purpose the Board of Health and Mental
Hygiene is hereby authorized to contract with physicians, dentists,
optometrists (as defined in Section 372 of this article), pharmacists,
hospitals, nursing homes, nurses, opticians; and other health
practitioners duly licensed or certified in this State who perform
services upon the prescription or referral of a physician for the
treatment of eligible persons; within the provisions of the budget
the said Board is hereby authorized to provide bedside nursing care
for eligible persons. (2) The Board of Health and Mental Hygiene
shall conduct and operate such hospitals as may be established by
law and placed under the jurisdiction of the said Board of Health and
Mental Hygiene for the care of persons suffering from chronic
diseases.

The State Department of Health and the Physicians and Phar-
macists Services Subcommittees of the Maryland Medical Assistance
Program Advisory Committee shall meet jointly to determine which
drugs shall be listed in a formulary system; and after such meetings,
the Department shall publish such formulary, which shall include
those generic drugs having clinical equivalency. The above Sub-
committees shall take due recognition of studies and recommen-
dations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. AND SHALL
CONSULT WITH VARIOUS SCHOOLS OF PHARMACY AND
SUCH OTHER MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EXPERTS
AS IT SHALL DEEM ADVISABLE.