By January 1, 2008, the department shall establish a prescription drug academic detailing program, referred to in this section as "the program," to enhance the health of residents of the State, to improve the quality of decisions regarding drug prescribing, to encourage better communication between the department and health care practitioners participating in publicly funded health programs and to reduce the health complications and unnecessary costs associated with inappropriate drug prescribing.
1.Program design.
The department shall design the program after consultation with prescribers and dispensers of drugs, carriers and health plans, hospitals, pharmacy benefit managers, consumers, the MaineCare Advisory Committee and the MaineCare drug utilization review committee under section 31
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By January 1, 2008, the department shall establish a prescription drug academic detailing program, referred to in this section as "the program," to enhance the health of residents of the State, to improve the quality of decisions regarding drug prescribing, to encourage better communication between the department and health care practitioners participating in publicly funded health programs and to reduce the health complications and unnecessary costs associated with inappropriate drug prescribing.
1.
Program design.
The department shall design the program after consultation with prescribers and dispensers of drugs, carriers and health plans, hospitals, pharmacy benefit managers, consumers, the MaineCare Advisory Committee and the MaineCare drug utilization review committee under section 3174‑M, subsection 2‑A.
2.
Definitions.
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
3.
Program components.
Program components must include outreach and education regarding the therapeutic and cost-effective use of prescription drugs as issued in peer-reviewed scientific, medical and academic research publications and made available to prescribers and dispensers of drugs in the State, including through written information and through personal visits from program staff. To the extent possible, program components must also include information regarding clinical trials, pharmaceutical efficacy, adverse effects of drugs, evidence-based treatment options and drug marketing approaches that are intended to circumvent competition from generic and therapeutically equivalent drugs. Academic detailers shall observe standards of conduct in their educational materials and written and oral presentations as established by rules adopted by the department that are consistent with the following federal regulations regarding labeling and false and misleading advertising: the Food and Drug Administration labeling requirements of 21 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 201 (2007) and prescription drug advertising provisions of 21 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 202 (2007) and the Office of the Inspector General's Compliance Program Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers issued in April 2003, as amended. The rules must require academic detailers to disclose evidence-based information about the range and cost of appropriate drug treatment options and the health benefits and risks of all appropriate drugs.
4.
Program coverage.
The program must provide outreach and education to prescribers and dispensers who participate in, contract with or are reimbursed by state-funded health care programs, including but not limited to the MaineCare program, the Maine Rx Plus Program, Dirigo Health insurance, the elderly low-cost drug program and the state employee health insurance program. The program may provide outreach and education to carriers, health plans, hospitals, employers and other persons interested in the program on a subscription or fee-paying basis under rules adopted by the department.
5.
Funding.
The program may be funded from the General Fund, from federal funds and from other special revenue funds. Beginning April 1, 2012 each manufacturer of prescription drugs that are provided to Maine residents through the MaineCare program or the elderly low-cost drug program shall pay a fee of $500 per calendar year to the department to provide funding for the program. The program may accept funds from nongovernmental health access foundations, the Tobacco Manufacturers Act under chapter 263, subchapter 3, undesignated funds associated with pharmaceutical marketing and pricing practices acquired through litigation or action of the Office of the Attorney General and fees from subscriptions, contracts and agreements with private payors as established by rule. Savings achieved as a result of the program may be retained for operation of the program or paid into the General Fund, at the option of the department.
6.
Annual report.
By April 1st each year the department shall provide to the Legislature an annual report on the operation of the program. The report must include information on the outreach and education components of the program; revenues, expenditures and balances; and savings attributable to the program in state-funded health care programs.
7.
Rulemaking.
The department shall adopt rules to implement the program. Rules adopted under this subsection are routine technical rules as defined by Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.