1144                                   LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 110

Financial Eligibility

FOR the purpose of altering the allowable income levels for
determining financial eligibility for the pharmacy
assistance program under the Maryland Medical
Assistance Program.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 43 - Health

Section 42M

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1980 Replacement Volume and 1980 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 43 - Health

42M.

(a)  From and after January 1, 1979, the Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene shall establish a Maryland
pharmacy assistance program for certain low income
individuals whose assets do not exceed the asset schedule of
the Maryland medical assistance program and whose gross
annual income does not exceed the medical assistance income
schedule by more than [$1,500] 2,200 $1,700. For this
purpose the Secretary shall define excluded assets, shall
establish a family unit structure and shall apply the
medical assistance financial eligibility schedules for
family units of the same size.

(b)  The Maryland pharmacy assistance program shall
reimburse providers for items and services covered under the
Maryland medical assistance pharmacy program up to the
amount paid for the same services under the medical
assistance pharmacy program subject to a copayment not to
exceed $1 for each covered service.

(c)  However, the Maryland pharmacy assistance program
may not reimburse providers for items that are currently
determined to be ineffective by the United States Food and
Drug Administration.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1981.

Approved April 28, 1981.

CHAPTER 111