Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §258 is enacted to read:

§258.__Public prescription drug plan

The department shall establish the Maine Tax Filer's Prescription Medication Plan, referred to in this section as "the plan," to acquire prescription medications at the best available market prices and to make those medications available to qualified residents of the State.

1.__Purchase of prescription medications.__The department may form and maintain or join wholesale purchasing consortiums with other states for the purpose of acquiring federally approved prescription medications directly from manufacturers at the best available prices.

2.__Delivery of prescription medications.__The department may accept delivery of prescription medications acquired under this section or may arrange for delivery to pharmacies and hospitals licensed in this State.

3.__Distribution of prescription medications.__Licensed pharmacies and hospitals within the State may distribute prescription medications acquired under this section to qualified residents of the State and may charge them a price for each unit that is no greater than the wholesale unit price paid by the department plus 10%.__At the end of each month, the pharmacy or hospital shall send to the department a payment for medications distributed under this section equal to the total of the unit wholesale prices paid by the State.

4.__Qualified residents.__Enrollment in the plan requires payment of a $10 enrollment fee for each person enrolled and filing of a personal income tax return for that person, either as the tax filer or as a listed dependent.__The enrolled person may participate in the plan for the 12 months following the date of payment of the enrollment fee.

5.__Rulemaking.__The department shall adopt rules to implement the plan.__Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes the Maine Tax Filer's Prescription Medication Plan to provide medications to Maine residents at the