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PUBLIC LAWS
First Special Session of the 122nd

PART X

     Sec. X-1. 22 MRSA §3174-M, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:

     1-A. Formulary standards. Any formulary established by the department must:

     Sec. X-2. 22 MRSA §3174-M, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 410, Pt. I, §10, is repealed.

     Sec. X-3. 22 MRSA §3174-M, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:

     2-A. Drug formulary committee. As authorized by Section 1927 (d) (4) (A) of the federal Social Security Act, 42 United States Code, Section 1396r-8, the department shall develop a formulary using the department's MaineCare drug utilization review committee, except that the membership of the formulary committee must include pharmacists who are expert in pharmacotherapy for pediatric, geriatric and psychiatric populations.

     Sec. X-4. 22 MRSA §3174-M, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 410, Pt. I, §10, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

     3. Emergency supply. The department shall adopt routine technical rules as necessary that provide for a pharmacy to dispense, in accordance with applicable licensing standards and professional judgment, a one-time supply for 10 days of the prescribed drug. The rules must allow the department to authorize refills of the drug on a case-by-case basis at the end of the 10-day period if the prescribing provider has not submitted the required information at that time or the department determines that an additional refill is necessary.

The rules must provide that receipt of a 10-day supply under this subsection does not relieve the prescribing provider of the duty to submit all required information. The provision of the 10-day supply does not entitle the MaineCare member to receive benefits pending appeal in the event that a request for prior authorization is ultimately denied, except when the member was receiving the drug for which the 10-day supply was provided immediately prior to the provision of that supply.
Any drug provided under this emergency procedure is considered a Medicaid-covered service pending departmental actions.

     Sec. X-5. 22 MRSA §3174-M, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

     5. Expedited review process. The department shall provide an independent review process whenever a MaineCare member has written certification from the member's physician that:

The independent review process must ensure a decision within 72 hours of the time that the request is filed, unless the parties otherwise agree that the 72-hour period may be extended. The independent review process must ensure that coverage decisions based upon lack of medical necessity are conducted by a physician or pharmacist. The physician need not in all cases be of the same specialty or subspecialty as the prescribing physician.

     Sec. X-6. Impact analysis required. The Department of Health and Human Services shall institute a process to determine the impact of its formulary on the health of MaineCare members and any increased utilization of other services within the program resulting from application of the formulary. This process must include a random sample survey of MaineCare members to determine the extent to which members have encountered barriers to care or adverse health effects or may have incurred additional health care costs as a result of this process. The department shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services the results of the first findings from this survey by February 1, 2006.

     Sec. X-7. Effective date of formulary. The Department of Health and Human Services shall develop the formulary pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-M, subsection 1-A to take effect January 1, 2006.

     Sec. X-8. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS)
Bureau of Medical Services 0129
Initiative: Provides funding for contractual services to implement a modified drug formulary, including pharmacy claims processing, increased prior authorizations and education for MaineCare members.
GENERAL FUND     2005-06     2006-07

     __________     __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL     $500,000     $1,000,000
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND     2005-06     2006-07

     __________     __________
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES
FUND TOTAL               $500,000     $1,000,000

Medical Care - Payments to Providers 0147
Initiative: Effective January 1, 2006, reduces funding from savings achieved from establishing a modified drug formulary in the MaineCare program.
GENERAL FUND     2005-06     2006-07

     __________     __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL     ($4,850,000)     ($9,700,000)
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND     2005-06     2006-07

     __________     __________
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES
FUND TOTAL               ($8,401,366)     ($16,445,553)

Medical Care - Payments to Providers 0147
Initiative: Appropriates and allocates funds to reflect the impact of an expedited review process under the modified drug formulary initiative.
GENERAL FUND     2005-06     2006-07

     __________     __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL     $200,000     $400,000
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND     2005-06     2006-07

     __________     __________
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES
FUND TOTAL               $200,000     $400,000

Medical Care - Payments to Providers 0147
Initiative: Appropriates and allocates funds to reflect the impact of allowing for a 10-day supply of prescribed drugs under the modified drug formulary initiative.
GENERAL FUND     2005-06     2006-07

     __________     __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL     $450,000     $900,000
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND     2005-06     2006-07

     __________     __________
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES
FUND TOTAL               $779,508     $1,525,876

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS)

DEPARTMENT TOTALS     2005-06     2006-07

     __________     __________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL -
ALL FUNDS               ($10,621,858)     ($20,919,677)

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