Maryland

The General Assembly adjourned Sine Die this week. The following priority bills for pharmacy are on their way to Gov. Moore (D) for his signature: 

• HB 693– Allows pharmacists to delegate the administration of certain vaccines to adults to Pharmacy technicians and allows technicians to perform remote data entry. This “emergency bill” will be effective upon signing. 
• SB 678 – Requires Medicaid, CHIP, and commercial insurers to reimburse pharmacies for services within their scope of practice if the plan would otherwise cover. Effective Oct 1, 2023. 
• HB 374– Clarifies that the statutory audit provisions in current audit law applies to PBMs (Pharmacy Benefits Managers) contracted with Managed Care Plans; adds new requirements that apply to all insurers and managed care; and requires PBMs to provide a secure electronic method of communication between the pharmacy and the PBM for sharing auditing information by Oct 2025. Provides that MIA (Maryland Insurance Administration) may promulgate rules. Effective Jan 1, 2024. 
• HB 382 -Requires the MDH (Maryland Department of Health) (Maryland Department of Health) and Prescription Drug Advisory Board to complete a study on MCC claims around the costs of implementing a pharmacy reimbursement cost-based rate floor in the Medicaid Managed Care program. The study is due to the General Assembly in Oct 2023.  

NACDS thanks our state partners and members for their work to get these bills across the finish line. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.