Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §286-B is enacted to read:

§286-B.__Pharmacy benefits management

If the Bureau of Human Resources, Division of State Employee Health Insurance determines that pharmacy benefits management that is independent of the health benefits carrier or carriers providing health benefits pursuant to section 285 may be advantageous to the state employee health insurance program, the Division of State Employee Health Insurance may require the carrier or carriers to seek bids for pharmacy benefits management services on a contractual basis from an independent nonprofit pharmacy benefits management entity or may seek bids for those services separately from the contract with the health benefits carriers or carrier providing health benefits pursuant to section 285.

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §261 is enacted to read:

§261.__Pharmacy benefits management

If the department determines that pharmacy benefits management may be advantageous to a health or pharmacy benefits program administered by the department under this Title, the department shall seek bids for pharmacy benefits management services on a contractual basis from a nonprofit pharmacy benefits management entity.

SUMMARY

This bill would, under certain circumstances, require the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Human Resources, Division of State Employee Health Insurance and the Department of Human Services to seek bids on pharmacy benefits management services from a nonprofit pharmacy benefits management entity for the state employee health insurance program and for a health or pharmacy benefits program administered by the State.