128th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 455		LR 1915(01)
	An Act Relating to the Provision of Tobacco Cessation Services by Pharmacists
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Chace of Durham
	Committee: Health and Human Services
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill amends the laws governing the practice of pharmacy to expressly include tobacco cessation counseling services and the furnishing of nicotine replacement products, requires pharmacists to be reimbursed by the MaineCare program for these services and requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to adopt rules by January 1, 2018 for the reimbursement of pharmacists for counseling services. This could potentially lead to more individuals receiving tobacco cessation services then under current rules. However, since this service is currently provided in other settings, it is unknown how many individuals may receive the service in the new setting and how many of those individuals would not have received the service under the old rules. Thus, a more precise fiscal estimate is not made at this time.
	Additional costs to DHHS associated with the rulemaking process can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
	Additional costs to the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Maine Board of Pharmacy and the Board of Licensure in Medicine associated with the rulemaking process can be absorbed within each board's existing budgeted resources.