AGENDA: Pharmacy Benefits Managers Workgroup Meeting Five, September 22, 2026
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Pharmacy Benefits Managers Workgroup Meeting #5
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
This meeting is virtual through the Zoom platform.
Register in advance for this September 22 meeting.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting
- Welcome – Mary Kwei, MIA, Associate Commissioner, Market Regulation and Professional Licensing
Athos Alexandrou, MDH, Director, Office of Pharmacy Services
- Continued Overview of Charge #2, Pharmacy Reimbursement – Athos Alexandrou, MDH, Director, Office of Pharmacy Services
- Continued Topics for Group Discussion – Athos Alexandrou, MDH, Director, Office of Pharmacy Services
Current Delivery Model
- What operational challenges do pharmacies experience when contracting with multiple MCOs and PBMs?
- How do differences across MCOs and PBMs affect patient access?
Single PBM (SPBM) Model
- Which differences across PBMs create the greatest burden, particularly related to claims payment?
- Are there current PBM or MCO practices that stakeholders believe should be standardized regardless of which delivery model Maryland uses?
Fee-for-Service (FFS) Carve-out Model
- What are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of carving pharmacy benefits out of managed care and administering them through FFS?
- What implementation issues would Maryland anticipate if claims processing, prior authorization, provider support, and pharmacy operations shifted to an expanded FFS vendor role?
- Potential Policy Recommendations - Mary Kwei, MIA, Associate Commissioner, Market Regulation and Professional Licensing; Athos Alexandrou, MDH, Director, Office of Pharmacy Services
- Comments from Workgroup Members
- Comments from Public Stakeholders, as time allows
- Closing Remarks – Mary Kwei, MIA, Associate Commissioner, Market Regulation and Professional Licensing
Athos Alexandrou, MDH, Director, Office of Pharmacy Services
If you would like to offer public comments during the virtual meeting, please notify the MIA and MDH in advance by submitting your request to
[email protected]. The MIA and MDH can only assure the opportunity to speak during the virtual meeting to those interested parties who have signed up by
Friday, September 18, 2026.To the extent that time and technology permit, the Workgroup will hear from unregistered participants who access the Zoom Webinar platform.
