The Department of Health (MDH) announced it provided the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) with the first list of drugs that meet the statutory criteria for potential cost review. In total, MDH reported that 1,083 prescription drug products met at least one of the statutory criteria—and many drugs met multiple criteria or the same criterion multiple times. The statutory criteria include thresholds for significant price increases (such as price increases exceeding 15% in a year) and expensive drugs (such as prices of more than $60,000 per year or course of treatment). The PDAB was established to conduct cost reviews of prescription drug products and has authority to set payment limits. The Board began its work in 2024 and is comprised of seven voting members appointed by the Governor and two nonvoting legislative members.  

To learn more about the PDAB, to attend a public meeting of the PDAB, or to submit comments to the PDAB, please visit the PDAB website. Stakeholders interested in receiving announcements on prescription drug price transparency at MDH may subscribe to Prescription Drug Price Transparency updates.  

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

The Rural Health Transformation webpage includes all current information available on the various programs the state is seeking to implement. The full program project narrative includes details on each program, eligible participants and the stakeholders and/or entities who will help develop each initiative. Members can: 

• Sign up for MDH's RHTF listserv here.  

• Track RFPs the state may issue related to the programs that are posted. In addition, major contracts (estimated value over $50,000) are advertised each Monday in the State Register . 

Also in Minnesota, the Department of Health (MDH) issued an announcement RE: MDH Endorses AAP [American Academy of Pediatrics] Schedule, RSV-mAb on Regular Order Form, Educate Staff on Program.  

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

The Department of Health (MDH) released the final updated Form and Manner for Prescription Drug Data Sets, as well as an updated Frequently Asked Questions Document. Updates impact reporting by all reporting entities, including manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacy benefit managers and pharmacies.  

The updates reflect statutory changes from the 2025 legislative session (Laws of Minnesota, 2025 – 1st Special Session, chapter 3, article 2, sections 6-14) and responses to input received during the comment period. The updates include changes to align reporting elements, modified registration requirements and a change to the reporting period for reporting data on drugs of substantial public interest.  

MDH has updated the Rx Data Portal to integrate the statutory changes and make additional enhancements to support reporting entities. These updates are now live and available to all reporting entities. 

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

The vaccine protocol templates for the COVID-19 vaccine have been updated on Vaccine Protocols. Only minor changes have been made to provide clarity. The protocol content has not been changed.

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

Gov. Tim Walz (D) issued an executive order  (EO) to address the state’s intention to ensure that vaccine access is preserved and expanded. The EO directs various government agencies to investigate ways to expand access to payment for vaccines. NACDS intends to work with members and state partners to advocate for strengthening pharmacy vaccine reimbursement.

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

This week, the General Assembly passed SF 6/HF2, including pharmacy’s language to restructure the Medicaid managed care pharmacy benefit under a state-directed, non-conflicted, transparent single PBM, like the Ohio and Kentucky models. The Department is required to implement the model by January 1, 2027, which mandates an AAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost or Minnesota actual acquisition cost) + $11.55 Professional Dispensing Fee (PDF) payment rate. The bill also includes a $4.50 “directed payment” to supplement current PDFs through the end of 2026. To qualify, the pharmacy must attest to having less than 13 locations, or be in a federally designated medically underserved area, or primarily serve an underserved population. Lastly, the bill also extends audio-only telehealth allowances to providers through Fiscal Year 2027; this applies to reimbursements for claims with private plans, Medicaid and MinnesotaCare. Many thanks to our members and pharmacy partners, especially the Minnesota Retailers’ Association and the Minnesota Pharmacy Alliance, for taking the lobbying lead on-the-ground in St. Paul. NACDS will update members when Gov. Tim Walz (D) signs the bill and when the Department provides guidance on applying for the “directed payment” supplement. 

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

The General Assembly will reconvene in a special session before July 1, due to missing the June 1 budget deadline. At that time, we expect them to consider pharmacy's priority issue, reforming the managed care pharmacy benefit under a state directed, transparent, pass-through single PBM. The new structure, similar to Ohio and Kentucky's, is included in both the Senate and House Health Omnibus bills (HF 2435/SF 2669). If adopted, pharmacy reimbursement would be set at Actual Acquisition Cost (AAC) + the current fee-for-service professional dispensing fee. NACDS played a key role in advocating for this structure and successfully secured support from the Administration and Department of Health and Human Services. 

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

As the General Assembly enters its last week of the session, both the House and Senate have passed our priority PBM reform language in their respective health omnibus bills, HF 2435 and SF 2669. The bills are now on their way to conference committee to hammer out differences. (HF 2435/SF 2669). The provisions would reform the Medicaid pharmacy program under a single state-directed pharmacy benefit administrator. The bills require a rate floor of AAC + $11.55 and include prohibitions on questionable PBM business practices. Also included is a provision changing the cost of dispensing study frequency from every three years to biannually.  

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

The Department of Health (MDH) published the March 2025 list of drugs of substantial public interest with a focus on insulin products. It is the second list published as part of the statutory reporting requirement. You can also find it on MDH’s Public Interest Drug Lists webpage along with the Public Interest List Methodology & Summary—March 2025. Reporting entities, including pharmacies, have approximately 90 days to report (notifications will be sent 30 or more days after the list release date; reports are due 60 days after notifications are sent). Data and analysis from this and other Lists of Drugs of Substantial Public Interest will be made available on the Prescription Drug Price Transparency website. For direct updates, subscribe to the Prescription Drug Price Transparency email list. For more information, visit the Prescription Drug Price Transparency website.

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