An Act to Improve Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs in Underserved Areas
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2175
Committee Amendment CA_A_S692 (Senate)
Amends: 22 MRSA §259

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" f1 "to S.P. 926, L.D. 2175, "An Act to Improve 
Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs in Underserved Areas" 
Amend the bill in section 3 in paragraph Din subparagraph (3) in the 3rd line (page 2, 
line 25 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "drugs." the following: 'improving access 
to prescription drugs through mobile outreach.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 4 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 4. 22 MRSA §259, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3. Allocation of pharmacy services support funding. Each federally qualified health 
center may apply for funds made available pursuant to subsection 1. paragraph D by 
providing the department with a budget and plan for developing or improving pharmacy 
services and access to affordably priced prescription drugs for its patients. The department 
shall allocate available funds equitably among all applicants based on the cost-effectiveness 
and feasibility of the proposed development or improvement of patient access to affordably 
priced prescription drugs and the availability of other pharmacy services in the areas served 
by a federally qualified health center applying for funds. In developing criteria for 
awarding available funds, the department shall consult with and consider the 
recommendations of a statewide association of federally qualified health centers. Any 
available funds not awarded in fiscal year 2024-25 must be deposited in a nonlapsing 
account from which awards may be made in subsequent fiscal periods for the purposes set 
forth in subsection 1. paragraph D.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 5 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 5. Implementation. The Department of Health and Human Services shall 
publish a schedule and instructions for the content of applications and criteria for 
determining awards for the pharmacy services support program described in this 
legislation. The department's schedule must ensure that initial awards of funding be made 
no later than December 15, 2024 and must ensure that applicants have no less than 60 days 
to prepare and submit applications after instructions for the content of applications and 
criteria for selection have been published. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~o~ 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT" A 
"fu S.P. 926, L.D. 2175 ( )' (/fl) 
contrary, the department shall ensure that a majority of the persons selected to evaluate the 
applications have substantial training or experience in the operation and management of a 
federally qualified health center, by including among those evaluating the applications 
volunteers recommended by a statewide association of federally qualified health centers.' 
Amend the bill in section 6 in the 2nd and 3rd lines (page 3, lines 14 and 15 in L.D.) 
by striking out the following: "Office of Affordable Health Care, as established in Title 5, 
section 3122," and inserting the following: 'Department of Health and Human Services' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 7 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 7. 
Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention 0143 
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for the Maine Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention to support federally qualified health centers in developing and expanding 
pharmacy services and access to affordably priced prescription drugs for the patients of 
such health centers. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention 0143 
2023-24 
$0 
$0 
2024-25 
$7,500,000 
$7,500,000 
Initiative: Establishes one limited-period Comprehensive Health Planner II position and 
one limited-period Management Analyst II position to administer the grants and monitor 
the finances of the program to support access to pharmacy services and affordably priced 
prescription drugs to residents of the State in rural and underserved communities through 
June 17, 2025. 
GENERAL FUND 
Personal Services 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
2023-24 
$0 
$0 
$0 
2023-24 
$0 
$0 
2024-25 
$208,549 
$13,074 
$221,623 
2024-25 
$7,721,623 
$7,721,623 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" n 
"to S.P. 926, L.D. 2175 ( S & 1 /') 
SUMMARY 
This amendment transfers responsibility for administration and distribution of the grant 
program established in the bill from the Office of Affordable Health Care to the Department 
of Health and Human Services. 
The amendment also adds language directing the 
department to consider the availability of other pharmacy services in the areas served by a 
federally qualified health center applying for grant funding when making decisions to 
allocate funds to applicants. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/10/24 ;'!:Pae 
LD 2175 
LR2797(02) 
An Act to Improve Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs in Underserved Areas 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ''lf'LS (oC/ ~ 
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY2023-24 
FY 2024-25 
$7,721,623 
Projections 
FY 2025-26 
Projections 
FY2026-27 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$7,721,623 
$0 
$0 
The bill includes a one-time General Fund appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services of 
$7,721,623 in fiscal year 2024-25 for grants to support federally qualified health centers in developing and expanding 
phannacy services and access to affordably priced prescription drugs for the patients of such health centers and two 
limited-period positions to administer the grants and monitor the finances of the program. 
LR2797(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1