Medical Assistance Programs - Drug Dispensing - Cost-of-Dispensing Survey, the official text

WES MOORE, Governor  Ch. 709

Chapter 709

             (House Bill 1470)

AN ACT concerning

  Medical Assistance Programs – Drug Dispensing – Cost–of–Dispensing Survey
                        and Fee–for–Service Professional Dispensing Fee

FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Health to conduct the in–State
         cost–of–dispensing survey at a certain frequency; requiring the Department to adopt
         regulations establishing a fee–for–service professional dispensing fee based on the
         results of the survey within a certain period of time after the completion of the
         survey; requiring the Department to report the results of the survey to the General
         Assembly; and generally relating to the in–State cost–of–dispensing survey and
         fee–for–service professional dispensing fees under the Maryland Medical Assistance
         Program.

BY adding to
         Article – Health – General
         Section 15–107.1 and 15–118.2
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

         SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

                                          Article – Health – General

15–107.1.

        (A) BEGINNING IN 2026, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONDUCT THE
IN–STATE COST–OF–DISPENSING SURVEY AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 3 YEARS.

        (B) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR IN WHICH THE SURVEY
REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION IS CONDUCTED, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REPORT
THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
§ 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE.

15–118.2.

        WITHIN 6 MONTHS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE IN–STATE
COST–OF–DISPENSING SURVEY, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS
ESTABLISHING A FEE–FOR–SERVICE PROFESSIONAL DISPENSING FEE BASED ON
THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY.

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Ch. 709  2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND

         SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2026.

Approved by the Governor, May 26, 2026.

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