MN SF2946

Directs the Commissioner of Human Services to develop an evidence-based prescription drug education program in collaboration with the Board of Pharmacy and University of Minnesota Medical and Pharmacy Schools to provide information on therapeutic and cost-effective drug utilization to prescribers.

Program must focus on drugs identified by the Drug Utilization Review Board as subject to fraud, abuse, gross overuse, inappropriate care, or associated with opioid addiction, and must use peer-reviewed scientific research and materials from medical schools, academic centers, and research institutes.

Requires the program to provide outreach and education to health care professionals who collectively prescribe 80 percent or more of prescription medications dispensed to medical assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees, and may offer services to other providers on a fee-paying basis.

Establishes educator qualifications, required training, code of conduct, and conflict of interest guidelines for program staff.

Assesses a quarterly fee of 0.5 percent on revenues of wholesale drug distributors effective July 1, 2016, with revenues dedicated to program implementation, and requires annual reporting to legislature beginning April 1, 2017.