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2020 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Samirah
DMAS Management of Pharmacy Benefits

Item 313 #52h

Item 313 #52h

First Year - FY2021 Second Year - FY2022
Health and Human Resources
Department of Medical Assistance Services FY2021 ($32,000,000) FY2022 $0 GF

Language
Page 294, line 18, strike "$15,939,731,997" and insert "$15,907,731,997".

Page 321, after line 18, insert:

"GGGG.1. As a condition of this appropriation, the Department shall, not later than October 1, 2020, either directly or through a contracted pharmacy benefit manager, manage all pharmacy benefits for each of the Commonwealth's Children's Health Insurance Program, Medallion 4.0, the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus or other programs administered by the Department.  If the Department contracts with a pharmacy benefit manager, the contract shall require transparency in dispensing fees paid, cost control and containment measures, rebates collected and paid, and fees and other charges for its administration of the pharmacy benefit. In administering the pharmacy benefit, the Department shall annually report by not later than September 30 of each year, to the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees a status of the pharmacy benefit, including pharmacy network and access, cost savings, rebates, and effect on capitation rates. In conjunction with its management of the pharmacy benefit, the Department shall use an exclusive drug formulary.

2. The Department may permit Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) under the Commonwealth's Children's Health Insurance Program, Medallion 4.0, the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus or other programs administered by the Department to develop and implement medication therapy management programs, including medication reconciliation programs, for Medicaid recipients, but payments for prescribed drugs and dispensing fees shall be managed, directed and coordinated directly by the Department and not by MCOs or their subcontractors. All other prescription-related services and costs, pharmacy benefits, data systems, and drug rebate management shall be managed, directed and coordinated directly by the Department and not by MCOs.

3.  Savings in this item shall be used to fund the fiscal impact of (i) House Bill 529, which requires the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to enter into a contract to study options for financing universal health care, (ii) House Bill 530, which requires DMAS and the State Corporation Commission to contract with health carriers to offer qualified health plans on the health benefit exchanged beginning January 1, 2022, (iii) House Bill 531, which provides a refundable tax credit for a portion of the health care premium costs of a taxpayer insured through the individual marketplace, pursuant to the Affordable Care Care with a household income between 400 and 500 percent above the federal poverty level, (iv) House Bill 1479 relating to the regulations of pharmacy benefits managers, and (v) House Bill 1456 which requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to require a managed care organization, with which the Department enters into an agreement for the delivery of medical assistance services, to include in any agreement between the managed care organization and an intermediary, a provision prohibiting the intermediary from recouping direct and indirect remuneration fees with respect to a prescription."



Explanation

(This amendment adds language directing the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to begin all pharmacy benefits currently provided through programs administered by the agency. The 2019 General Assembly directed DMAS to contract with their actuary to determine the best pharmacy benefit delivery model for the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs in terms of cost effectiveness and other considerations. DMAS reported the findings from the review of pharmacy benefit management realignment in the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs in December 2019. That report indicated substantial benefits related to agency management of pharmacy benefits. It also captures savings of $32.0 million from the general fund which would be used to fund the impact of five bills related to the provision of health care.)