HB 813 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Insurance Administration and Maryland Department of Health - Workgroup to Study Pharmacy Benefits Managers

HB 813 requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to reimburse pharmacies at least the national average drug cost plus a professional dispensing fee for drugs covered under Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program). It directly affects pharmacies, PBMs, and managed care organizations that contract with PBMs for prescription drug coverage. Key provisions include expanding the definition of "purchaser" to include certain insurers and health plans, while excluding pharmacy-owned operations and mail-order pharmacies from the reimbursement rules. The bill aims to standardize payment rates for pharmacies serving Medicaid patients by tying reimbursements to nationally recognized cost benchmarks.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025

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What changed between versions

Third - Maryland Insurance Administration and Maryland Department of Health - Workgroup to Study Pharmacy Benefits Managers → Enrolled - Maryland Insurance Administration and Maryland Department of Health - Workgroup to Study Pharmacy Benefits Managers · 4 edits · May 20, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and enrolled, changing its status from a draft emergency measure to an official law. Substantive changes include updating the legal citations to reflect the correct code sections and replacing the specific instruction to convene a workgroup with a general mandate to study pharmacy benefits managers. The core policy requirements regarding reimbursement rates and the definition of 'Purchaser' remain unchanged from the previous version.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed slightly by removing the specific instruction to convene a workgroup, replacing it with a general mandate to study the issues. The applicability of the law to insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and HMOs remains the same.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the specific requirement to convene a workgroup to study pharmacy benefits managers, replacing it with a general mandate to study the issues.

TECHNICAL

Updated all legal citations to reference the correct Annotated Code of Maryland volumes (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) and corrected section numbers.

Changed the bill status from 'Emergency Bill' to 'Enrolled Bill' and added standard proofreading and governor approval placeholders.

Reorganized the bill structure to list repeals and additions in a standard sequence before the main text.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2025

How they voted

42–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 46

Mar 19, 2025

D Democratic33

29 Yea 4

87% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 20, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 730

executive

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Enrolled

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Introduced

House Concurs Senate Amendments

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Mar 24, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (138-0-1)

house of delegates

Mar 19, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (42-0-4)

senate

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health and Government Operations

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Committee

First Reading Health and Government Operations

lower

23 primary · 0 co-sponsors