PART P

Sec. P-1. 22 MRSA §254, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. GGG, §2, is further amended to read:

1. Prescription and nonprescription drugs. Prescription and nonprescription drugs, medications and medical supplies of manufacturers that enter into rebate agreements pursuant to subsection 8. The department may create and implement a preferred drug list. These drugs may be made available through the operation of this program.

A. The basic component of the program must provide drugs and medications for cardiac conditions and high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, anticoagulation, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, incontinence, thyroid diseases, glaucoma, parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The basic component must also provide over-the-counter medications that are prescribed by a health care provider and approved as cost- effective by the department.

B. The supplemental component of the program must provide all prescription drugs and medications of manufacturers that enter into rebate agreements pursuant to subsection 8 other than those prescription drugs and medications provided under paragraph A;

Sec. P-2. 22 MRSA §254, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. GGG, §3, is further amended to read:

4. Method of prescribing or ordering drugs. The method of prescribing or ordering the drugs under subsection 1, which may include, but is not limited to, the use of standard or larger prescription refill sizes so as to minimize operational costs and to maximize economy and may also include supply by mail order. Unless the prescribing physician indicates otherwise or the department determines that it would not be cost-effective, the use of generic or chemically equivalent drugs is required, as long as these drugs are of the same quality and have the same