On February 6, 2025, the Maine Board of Pharmacy will hold their regular scheduled meeting.  The agenda includes election of officers, opportunity to comment on the function of the board, and consideration of a Maine Academy of Physician Associates request related to routine license verification by pharmacists and a Maine Prevention Services request to partner with pharmacists to educate communities about ‘Maine QuitLink’.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The 2025 budget proposal by Gov. Janet Mills (D) includes a $.70 per prescription tax. The administration claims the proposal is revenue neutral. NACDS is working with the Retail Association of Maine and the Maine Pharmacists Association to engage the governor’s office to find out the motivation and true impact to pharmacies. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The Board of Pharmacy held its regular meeting on December 5. The agenda included regular business and limited delegation orders that expire at the end of the year.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

On September 16, MaineCare sent a message advising pharmacies that copays for pharmacy services would resume effective October 1, 2024, in conjunction with the end of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Follow up messages were also sent on September 27 and September 30.

Pursuant to MaineCare Benefits Manual Chapter 1 Section 1.09-1(B), no provider may deny services to a member for failure to pay a copayment.

As a reminder, effective October 1, 2024:

• MaineCare reinstates copayments for Section 80: Pharmacy Services.
• MaineCare no longer covers over-the-counter COVID-19 tests.
• The federal government is supplying four free COVID-19 test kits.
• The COVID-19 vaccine administration fee through the pharmacy benefit returns to $5.00.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board met on October 7. The meeting’s main purpose was to finalize the draft for the questionnaire for public payors and to provide an update from the legislative planning workgroup, specifically concerning LD 1829. The Board is scheduled to meet next on November 25 at 10:30 am.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The Board of Pharmacy held a pharmacy rule-making subcommittee meeting on September 16, 2024, regarding updating the board rules. The subcommittee goals are

• Protect the public
• Update/Modernize current rules
• Streamline to eliminate repetition, separate rules from statutes
• Create an easy-to-use reference for all stakeholders
• Ensure our rules align with current Federal law and allow for modern pharmacy practice

 They reviewed chapters four and five of rules, which cover registration and continuing education. The next meeting will be October 21, 2024.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

On September 5, the Board of Pharmacy held its regular meeting. The agenda included licensure by endorsement and a central fill data collection pilot project.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The Maine Board of Pharmacy held its regular scheduled meeting on August 1, 2024. The agenda included proposed rulemaking on:

• Chapter 7: Licensure and Employment of Pharmacy Technicians (Amend)
• Chapter 41: Sale of Nonprescription Drugs Through Vending Machine Outlets (Amend)
• Chapter 43: Prescribing, Dispensing and Administering HIV Prevention Drugs (New)
• Chapter 44: Pharmacist Authorization to Make Certain Contraception Accessible (New)

The next meeting will be a rulemaking subcommittee meeting on August 19, 2024.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The Board of Pharmacy has given Notice of Proposed Rule-Making. The Board will be hearing public comments on August 1 at 8:30 am online or in-person. These proposed set of rules are in response to several laws enacted by the 131^st Legislature:

1. setting standards by which a pharmacy technician may qualify to be certified to administer vaccines;
2. repeals the 12-item limit for drug outlet vending machines;
3. establish standards for authorizing pharmacists to prescribe, dispense and administer HIV prevention drugs, set adequate training requirements and protocols for when there is no prescription drug order, standing order or collaborative practice agreement; and
4. implement requirements to increase access to birth control by making certain contraception accessible from a pharmacist.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.