ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 260

(2) As a condition of participation, the Department may require
Maryland Pharmacy Assistance Program participants to apply for eligibility in the
Maryland Medical Assistance Program within 60 days of notification to do so by the
Department.

(3) The rules and regulations shall require that the recipient be given
notice and an opportunity for a hearing before eligibility may be denied, restricted, or
terminated under this subsection.

(E) PRIOR AUTHORIZATION PROCEDURES OR RESTRICTIONS ON COVERAGE
DEVELOPED FOR THE MARYLAND PHARMACY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SHALL BE
DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 15-118.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

[(e)] (F) The Secretary shall develop a program, in consultation with
appropriate agencies, that will provide information to ineligible Maryland Pharmacy
Assistance Program applicants regarding other programs that they may be eligible
for including the Maryland Medbank Program established under § 15-124.2 of this
subtitle and the short term prescription drug subsidy plan established under Subtitle
6 of this title.

15-124.1.

(a)     (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated:

(2) "Enrollee" means an individual who is enrolled in the Maryland
Pharmacy Discount Program.

(3) "Program" means the Maryland Pharmacy Discount Program
established under this section.

(b)     There is a Maryland Pharmacy Discount Program within the Maryland
Medical Assistance Program.

(e) The purpose of the Program is to improve the health status of Medicare
beneficiaries who lack prescription drug coverage by providing access to lower cost,
medically necessary, prescription drugs.

(d)     The Program shall be administered and operated by the Department as
permitted by federal law or waiver.

(e)     (1) The Program shall be open to Medicare beneficiaries who lack other
public or private prescription drug coverage.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, enrollment in the
Maryland Medbank Program established under § 15-124.2 of this subtitle or the
Maryland Pharmacy Assistance Program established under § 15-124 of this subtitle
does not disqualify an individual from being eligible for the Program.

(f) (1) Subject to subsection (g) of this section, an enrollee may purchase
medically necessary prescription drugs that are covered under the Maryland Medical
Assistance Program from any pharmacy that participates in the Maryland Medical

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