173.731 Annual selection of pharmacy benefit manager.

Annually, the department of aging shall select a pharmacy benefit manager, from among the pharmacy benefit managers subject to section 173.73 of the Revised Code, to serve as the Ohio’s best Rx program’s consulting pharmacy benefit manager for purposes of providing drug pricing verification services under section 173.742 of the Revised Code and drug manufacturer payment verification services under section 173.814 of the Revised Code. The department shall select the pharmacy benefit manager that the department considers to be the most appropriate pharmacy benefit manager to provide the verification services for the Ohio’s best Rx program. In making the selection, the department shall consider the pharmacy benefit manager that provides services relative to the outpatient drug coverage included in the health benefit plan offered to the greatest number of employees or retirees of a state agency or political subdivision and the eligible dependents of those employees or retirees.

The department shall provide written notice to the pharmacy benefit manager that it has been selected to serve as the Ohio’s best Rx program’s consulting pharmacy benefit manager. The notice shall specify the date on which the pharmacy benefit manager is to begin serving as the program’s consulting pharmacy benefit manager for the ensuing year.

Before the end of the one-year period during which a pharmacy benefit manager is to serve as the program’s consulting pharmacy benefit manager, the department shall make another selection in accordance with this section. In making the selection, the department may select the same pharmacy benefit manager to serve as the program’s consulting pharmacy benefit manager or may select another pharmacy benefit manager.

Effective Date: 07-01-2007