This bill amends section 68-9,111 of the Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024, to establish new pharmacy dispensing fees for independent pharmacies and other pharmacies participating in the medical assistance program. Beginning in the fiscal year 2024-25, independent pharmacies will receive a fee-for-service dispensing fee of ten dollars and thirty-eight cents per prescription until a cost-of-dispensing survey is completed. The bill also mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services amend Medicaid managed care organization contracts to align with these dispensing fees. Additionally, the bill requires the department to submit a report by December 15, 2024, with recommendations for adjusting pharmacy dispensing fees.

Effective July 1, 2026, the bill outlines a tiered reimbursement structure for pharmacies based on the number of prescriptions filled annually. Independent pharmacies will continue to receive ten dollars and thirty-eight cents per prescription, while other pharmacies will receive varying amounts based on their prescription volume. The bill also stipulates that pharmacies that are the only enrolled pharmacy within a thirty-mile radius will receive the same dispensing fee as independent pharmacies. Furthermore, the department is tasked with completing a follow-up cost-of-dispensing survey by July 1, 2026, and submitting a report with recommendations for annual adjustments to pharmacy dispensing fees. The original section 68-9,111 is repealed as part of this legislative update.