(a)  Establish.- The Department shall use existing resources to establish a toll free Maryland Pharmacy Access Hotline that: 

(1) Operates during regular business hours; and 

(2) During nonbusiness hours allows callers to leave a message. 

(b)  Hotline information.-  

(1) The Department shall distribute to all Program recipients information about the Maryland Pharmacy Access Hotline. 

(2) The information shall state clearly in easily readable print: 

(i) The toll free telephone number of the hotline; and 

(ii) That the Program recipient should call the telephone number if the Program recipient is having problems getting necessary medicines. 

(c)  Notification to health care providers.- The Department shall notify all health care providers who participate in the Program about the Maryland Pharmacy Access Hotline. 

(d)  Tracking and report.- The Department shall: 

(1) Develop a methodology to track the number and type of calls received by the Maryland Pharmacy Access Hotline; and 

(2) Provide a quarterly report to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee that summarizes the number and type of calls received by the Maryland Pharmacy Access Hotline. 

[2003, ch. 260.]