This bill allows the Department of Corrections to enter into purchasing agreements with drug manufacturers if such agreements are deemed cost-effective for the state. It also modifies existing regulations regarding the substitution of generic drugs for prescriptions paid for by the department. Specifically, it removes the requirement that notification from the prescribing practitioner must be in their own handwriting and eliminates the reference to the Medicaid program in this context.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that pharmacists may only substitute a drug product if its price is lower than that of the prescribed product. It introduces provisions for the department to engage in collaborative purchasing structures aimed at achieving cost savings on therapeutic agents. The commissioner of the Department of Corrections is granted the authority to waive certain regulations to ensure the availability of pharmaceutical services or to prevent economic hardship. The bill is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 623-C:2
Version adopted by both bodies: 623-C:2
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 623-C:2