The Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) has rescheduled its September 23 Board meeting for September 10. Registration is required to participate. The Board welcomes public comment and input on all its work. Additional information about providing public comment can be found on the Board Meetings page of the PDAB’s website.

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

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) invites you to attend the August meeting of its Stakeholder Council at 2:00 pm on August 26 virtually. The agenda and other meeting materials and registration link will be available on the Stakeholder Council page of the PDAB’s website prior to the scheduled meeting. To register for oral public comments and for additional information, please refer to the Stakeholder Council page.

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

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) has selected 6 drugs they propose to subject to a cost review process. If members wish to submit comments on any or all the choices, please send them to comments.pdab@maryland.gov with the subject line: Board Selected Drugs (Drug Name) by July 22. For more information on the PDAB or on the comment process, see the PDAB’s Board Selected Drugs Page.

Also in Maryland, Medicaid Fee-For-Service released Advisory #263 in reference to the Generic vs. Brand Status on Medicaid’s Preferred Drug List (PDL) effective July 1, 2024.

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

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) announced the June virtual meeting of its Stakeholder Council, scheduled for 2:00 pm on June 24. The agenda and other meeting materials will be available on the Stakeholder Council page of the PDAB’s website prior to the scheduled meeting. To register for the June 24 virtual meeting, please click on this link and enter the required information. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing details about joining the meeting. Also, to register for oral public comment and for additional information concerning public comments, please refer to the Stakeholder Council page.

Also in Maryland, please visit the Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s, Cost Review Study Process page on the Board’s website to learn more about the comment period for “Board Selected Drugs for Cost Review.” The 60-day comment period will close on July 22, 2024.  

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

At its May 20 meeting, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board selected six prescriptions drugs for cost review studies.

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

Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed HB 76 and SB 18, legislation that allows pharmacists to provide routine childhood vaccines to children ages 7 years and older. Both measures became effective upon signature.  

Also in Maryland, effective May 1, 2024, Depakote Sprinkle Capsule (divalproex sprinkle capsule) is no longer preferred over its respective generic equivalent. Claims for the brand will now adjudicate only if there is a prior authorization based on an approved Maryland Department of Health (MDH) MedWatch form.  

Finally in Maryland, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board will consider placing price caps on eight drugs soon, including the weight-loss and diabetes drug Ozempic, the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug Vyvance and an asthma medication called Dupixent. The drugs on the list cost more than $30,000 a year, meeting the board’s criteria as cost prohibitive. (WYPR) 

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

Pharmacy reached an important milestone in our effort to make PREP Act immunization authority permanent as our companion bills, SB 18 and HB 76, both passed their respective chambers of origin last week. We are cautiously optimistic that the bills will pass in the opposite chamber prior to sine die.

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

The Maryland House and Government Operations Committee Subcommittee on Insurance and Pharmaceuticals met this week and advanced an amended version of HB 76, a bill that would expand pharmacists’ ability to immunize children. The negotiated amendment to the bill would allow pharmacies to provide COVID, flu and any vaccine available because of a public health emergency to children aged 3 and older, as well as all ACIP-recommended vaccines and travel vaccines to children 7 years of age and older. The bill was reported out of subcommittee with 3 negative votes. It now goes to the full House. 

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

The House Health and Government Operations Committee (HGO) held an informational briefing on January 25 regarding the Department of Health’s (MDH) study of establishing NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) + Fee-for-Service dispensing fee in the Medicaid Managed Care Program. 3 Axis Advisors presented to the Committee, pointing out the elements that MDH’s study did not consider that would impact patient access, costs, and pharmacy viability. 

Also in Maryland, on February 1, the House Health and Government Operations Committee will hear testimony on HB 76, a priority bill for pharmacy that would allow the administration of routine childhood vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to children aged 5 years and older. Its companion bill, SB 18, is scheduled for its first hearing in the Senate Finance Committee on February 13. If any members would like to testify on the pharmacy panel at either hearing, please contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack 

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