ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

H.B. 363

(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
Assistance Program at a price that is based on the price paid by the Maryland
Medical Assistance Program, minus the aggregate value of any federally mandated
manufacturers' rebates.

(2) Subject to subsection (g) of this section, and to the extent authorized
under federal waiver, an enrollee whose annual household income is at or below 175
[percent] % of the federal poverty guidelines may receive a discount subsidized by the
Department that is equal to 35 [percent] % of the price paid by the Maryland Medical
Assistance Program for each medically necessary prescription drug purchased under
the Program.

(g) The Department may establish mechanisms to:

(1) Recover the administrative costs of the Program;

(2) Reimburse participating pharmacies in an amount equal to the
Maryland Medical Assistance price, minus the copayment paid by the enrollee for
each prescription filled under the Program; and

(3) Allow participating pharmacies to collect a $1 processing fee, in
addition to any authorized dispensing fee, for each prescription filled for an enrollee
under the Program.

(H) PRIOR AUTHORIZATION PROCEDURES OR RESTRICTIONS ON COVERAGE
DEVELOPED FOR THE PROGRAM SHALL BE DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH §
15.118.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

[(h)] (I) The Secretary shall adopt regulations to implement the Program.

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