MD HB1384

Maryland Department of Health must select and contract with a single State pharmacy benefits manager by July 1, 2028 to administer pharmacy benefits for all Medicaid recipients, including those enrolled in managed care organizations.

All managed care contracts entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2028 must require the managed care organization to use the State pharmacy benefits manager for administering pharmacy benefits.

The contract must require pass-through pricing, prohibit spread pricing, and mandate transparency in drug costs, rebates, dispensing fees, administrative fees, and all other charges.

The Department must hire an independent consultant with experience advising Medicaid fraud control units and working with states that have established single PBM systems; the consultant cannot have ties to managed care organizations or their contracted PBMs.

Effective date: October 1, 2026.