| Sec. 1. Study of initiatives for local pharmacies. Resolved: That the |
| Department of Health and Human Services shall study access to |
| drugs in state-sponsored programs and study initiatives for local |
| pharmacies participating in the MaineCare program. The |
| department shall involve interested parties, advocates and |
| providers. The study of initiatives must include a study of |
| telepharmacy in rural areas, copayments in the MaineCare program, |
| MaineCare dispensing fees in local pharmacies, MaineCare shipping |
| and handling requirements for specialty pharmacies and MaineCare |
| policies for mail order and using local pharmacies with regard to |
| maintenance medications, review and maximization of the rural |
| pharmacy incentive program, first-time dispensing of medications, |
| refill policies and 90-day dispensing of medications. The |
| Department of Health and Human Services shall report to the Joint |
| Standing Committee on Health and Human Services by September 15, |
| 2005 on the telepharmacy initiative and by January 15, 2006 on |
| all initiatives. |
