HB 321

Pharmacy Benefits Managers – Definition of Purchaser and Alteration of Application of Law

Sponsor: Nicholaus R. Kipke (District 31)Committee: Health and Government OperationsSubject: Health - InsuranceStatus: Hearing 3/27 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering the definition of 'purchaser' for the purpose of certain provisions of State insurance law governing pharmacy benefits managers to exclude certain nonprofit health maintenance organizations; requiring the Maryland Insurance Administration to convene a workgroup to review and make recommendations by January 1, 2026, on provisions of State law regarding pharmacy benefits managers, specialty pharmacies, and antisteering including any legislation necessary to carry out the recommendations; etc.

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Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 16FavorableUNF 35UnfavorableINFO 4Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Hose, Brian	EPIC Pharmacies	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McDonough, Caitlinlobbyist	HJM	Written (PDF)
FAV	Horton, Aliyahlobbyist	Maryland Pharmacists Association	Oral
FAV	Horton, Aliyahlobbyist	Maryland Pharmacists Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	locklair, caileylobbyist	Maryland Retailers Association	Oral
FAV	locklair, caileylobbyist	Maryland Retailers Association	Oral
FAV	Wienner, Stephen	Mt. Vernon Pharmacy	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)
FAV	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gilleland, Emily	Office of Delegate Nic Kipke	Written (PDF)
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Kipke, Delegate Kipkelegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Kipke, Delegate Kipkelegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Hose, Brian	Individual	Oral
FAV	Kauffman, Dannalobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lake, Keith	AHIP - Washington, DC	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lake, Keith	AHIP - Washington, DC	Written (PDF)
UNF	Thorton, Terry	Act Now Baltimore	Written (PDF)
UNF	McCoy, Juli	Allegany County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Chung, Elizabeth	Asian American Center of Frederick	Written (PDF)
UNF	Flanagan, Sean	Baltimore County	Written (PDF)
UNF	Baker, Ray	Baltimore- DC Building Trades	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Popham, Brysonlobbyist	Bryson F. Popham, P.A.	Written (PDF)
UNF	Popham, Brysonlobbyist	Bryson F. Popham, P.A.	Written (PDF)
UNF	Worley, Jessica	Cecil County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Leonard, Victoria	Committee for Montgomery	Written (PDF)
UNF	Pfeffer, George Jr.	Dorchester County Council	Written (PDF)
UNF	Albacarys, Rico	International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 24	Written (PDF)
UNF	Albacarys, Rico	International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 24	Written (PDF)
UNF	Kress, Williamlobbyist	Kress Hammen	Written (PDF)
UNF	Of Maryland, League of Life and Health Insurers	League of Life and Health Insurers of Maryland	Written (PDF)
UNF	Peter, Matthew Peter	Local Government Insurance Trust	Written (PDF)
UNF	Manno, Rogerlobbyist	Manno & Associates LLC	Written (PDF)
UNF	Manno, Rogerlobbyist	Manno & Associates LLC	Written (PDF)
UNF	Anderson, Karrington	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Anderson, Karrington	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Written (PDF)
UNF	Allen, Hannahlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Allen, Hannahlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Jorch, Bill	Maryland Municipal League	Written (PDF)
UNF	Ascher, Jasonlobbyist	Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Brown, Fred	National Labor Alliance of Health Care Coalitions	Written (PDF)
UNF	Brown, Fred	National Labor Alliance of Healthcare Coalitions	Oral
UNF	Cascone, Heatherlobbyist	Pharmaceutical Care Management Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Johansen, Michaellobbyist	RWL	Oral
UNF	Johansen, Michaellobbyist	RWL	Oral
UNF	Rifkin, Bradlobbyist	RWL	Written (PDF)
UNF	Celentano, Matthewlobbyist	The League of Life and Health Insurers of Maryland	Written (PDF)
UNF	Fiastro, Johnlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lininger, Brettlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lininger, Brettlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Power, Matt	Maryland Independent College and University Association	Written (PDF)
INFO	Power, Matt	Maryland Independent College and University Association	Written (PDF)
INFO	Grant, Marie	Maryland Insurance Administration	Written (PDF)
INFO	Grant, Marie	Maryland Insurance Administration	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Act Now BaltimoreUNF 1

AHIP - Washington, DCUNF 2

Allegany County Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Asian American Center of FrederickUNF 1

Baltimore CountyUNF 1

Baltimore- DC Building TradesUNF 1

Bryson F. Popham, P.A.UNF 2

Cecil County Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Committee for MontgomeryUNF 1

Dorchester County CouncilUNF 1

EPIC PharmaciesFAV 1

HJMFAV 1

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 24UNF 2

Kress HammenUNF 1

League of Life and Health Insurers of MarylandUNF 1

Local Government Insurance TrustUNF 1

Manno & Associates LLCUNF 2

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)UNF 2

Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 2

Maryland Independent College and University AssociationINFO 2

Maryland Insurance AdministrationINFO 2

Maryland Municipal LeagueUNF 1

Maryland Pharmacists AssociationFAV 2

Maryland Retailers AssociationFAV 2

Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades AssociationUNF 1

Mt. Vernon PharmacyFAV 1

National Labor Alliance of Health Care CoalitionsUNF 1

National Labor Alliance of Healthcare CoalitionsUNF 1

OAGFAV 2

Office of Delegate Nic KipkeFAV 1

Pharmaceutical Care Management AssociationUNF 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 2

RWLUNF 3

The League of Life and Health Insurers of MarylandUNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMcDonough, CaitlinHJMRegistered for: AbbVie Inc.; Aligned Data Centers; American Academy of Anesthesiology Assistants, Inc.; Associated Builders & Contractors; Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland (AIMM); Baltimore Gas and Electric Company…

FAVHorton, AliyahMaryland Pharmacists AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Pharmacists Association

FAVlocklair, caileyMaryland Retailers AssociationRegistered for: HPSO Investments LLC, T/A Riverboat on the Potomac; Maryland Retailers Alliance; Maryland Retailers Association

FAVPaddy, MichaelPublic Policy PartnersRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Campaign to Protect Patient Health d/b/a Value of Care Coalition; Chase Brexton Health System; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition; Gaudenzia, Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc.…

FAVKauffman, DannaRegistered for: Amazon.com Services, LLC; American Association of Dental Boards c/o Commission on Dental Competency Assessments; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; Behavioral Health System Baltimore; City of Rockville; Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland…

UNFPopham, BrysonBryson F. Popham, P.A.Registered for: Agency Insurance Company of Maryland; Agency Services, Inc.; Army Alliance; Bryson F. Popham P.A.; Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Baltimore (BOMA); CVS Health…

UNFKress, WilliamKress HammenRegistered for: Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Amazon.com Services, LLC; Apple Inc.; Boyd Gaming Corporation; Centers for Better Insurance, LLC; Coalition of Maryland Title Insurers…

UNFManno, RogerManno & Associates LLCRegistered for: CAUSE; Constellation; Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35; Mechanical Contractors Association of Metro Washington; Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association; Payactiv…

UNFAllen, HannahMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Maryland Chamber of Commerce

UNFAscher, JasonMid-Atlantic Pipe Trades AssociationRegistered for: Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association; UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 486

UNFCascone, HeatherPharmaceutical Care Management AssociationRegistered for: Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)

UNFJohansen, MichaelRWLRegistered for: 1/ST Racing MD LLC; ASC Engineered Solutions; Access Holdings Management Company, LLC; Alterwood Health, Inc.; Ashley, Inc.; Baltimore Streetcar Museum…

UNFRifkin, BradRWLRegistered for: 1/ST Racing MD LLC; ASC Engineered Solutions; Baltimore Banner, The; Berkshire Hathaway Energy GT&S, LLC; Board of County Commissioners of Allegany County, MD; Brewers Association of Maryland…

UNFCelentano, MatthewThe League of Life and Health Insurers of MarylandRegistered for: 38 Degrees North; Advanced Energy United; Alliance of Maryland Dental Plans; Allstate Insurance Company; America's Health Insurance Plans; American Council of Life Insurers…

UNFFiastro, JohnRegistered for: Amazon.com Services, LLC; Bayview Management LLC; Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 MD, VA & DC; Building Decarbonization Coalition; Carbon Solutions Group; Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc.…

UNFLininger, BrettRegistered for: Aflac (American Family Life Assurance Company); Amazon.com Services, LLC; American International Group; Boyd Gaming Corporation; Brookfield Power US Asset Management LLC; Centers for Better Insurance, LLC…