On March 30, MaineCare provided notice regarding the financial status of the state and its need to temporarily withhold reimbursement. Relevant from the notice:  

For the payment cycle that will run on April 2, we will continue to take only the following actions, consistent with the approach for the previous three payment cycles:  

• Pay Critical Access Hospital prospective interim payments (PIPs) at 70 percent the normal levels;  

• Hold payment for all hospital claims greater than $50,000;  

• Hold payment for multi-state chain, large health system and out-of-state retail pharmacies and durable medical equipment services; and  

• Hold payment for out-of-state providers of hospital, ambulance, pharmacy (excluding pharmacies within 15 miles of the Maine border) and durable medical equipment services. 

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

On March 3, the Joint Health and Human Services Committee held a working session on the budget, which includes a $.70/prescription tax on all prescriptions dispensed in the state. NACDS attended along with the Retail Association of Maine, the Maine Pharmacists Association and the Maine Society of Health–System Pharmacists. The budget is still pending and will next be reviewed by the Joint Appropriations Committee.

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

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.