Pharmacy Benefits Managers Workgroup Meeting #3
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
The Workgroup will continue discussing reimbursement for pharmacists.
Register in advance for this August 25 public hearing
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
This meeting is virtual through the Zoom platform.
- Welcome – Bonnie Cullison, Delegate, Montgomery County, Vice Chair of the Health Committee; Steve Johnson, Delegate, Harford County, Chair of the Health Committee’s Pharmaceuticals Subcommittee; Marie Grant, MIA, Insurance Commissioner;
Perrie Briskin, MDH, Deputy Secretary for Health Care Financing & Maryland Medicaid Director
- Presentation on Independent Specialty Pharmacies and Pharmacy Accreditation – National Association of Specialty Pharmacies
- Presentation on Transparency within PBM Reimbursement Arrangements – 3 Axis Advisors (tentative)
- Includes a focus on reimbursement terms that can be easily understood by plans, pharmacies, and PBMs
- Continued Overview of Charge #2, Pharmacy Reimbursement – Athos Alexandrou, MDH, Director, Office of Pharmacy Services
- Topics for Group Discussion – Athos Alexandrou, MDH, Director, Office of Pharmacy Services
Current Delivery 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?
- 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]. Because of the nature of the ZOOM Events platform, a special invitation is required to be seen and/or be heard via the platform. For that reason, 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, August 21, 2026, and provided an e-mail address to which an invitational link to the virtual meeting can be sent.
A public access link that allows individuals to view the virtual meeting will be posted on the MIA's website. To the extent that time and technology permit, the Workgroup will hear from unregistered participants who access the Zoom Event platform.
