A. The basic component of the program must provide drugs and medications for cardiac conditions and high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, anticoagulation, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, incontinence, thyroid diseases, glaucoma, parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The basic component must also provide over-the-counter medications that are prescribed by a health care provider and approved as cost- effective by the department.

B. In the The supplemental component of the program, drugs and medications must include provide all prescription drugs and medications of manufacturers that enter into rebate agreements pursuant to subsection 8 other than those prescription drugs and medications provided under the Medicaid program under this Title with the exception of drugs and medications provided by the basic component of the program under paragraph A;

Sec. GGG-3. 22 MRSA §254, sub-§§4 and 4-A, as amended by PL 2001, c. 691, §1 and affected by §6, are further amended to read:

4. Method of prescribing or ordering drugs. The method of prescribing or ordering the drugs under subsection 1, which may include, but is not limited to, the use of standard or larger

prescription refill sizes so as to minimize operational costs and to maximize economy and may also include supply by mail order. Unless the prescribing physician indicates otherwise or the department determines that it would not be cost-effective, the use of generic or chemically equivalent drugs is required, as long as these drugs are of the same quality and have the same mode of delivery as is provided to the general public, consistent with good pharmaceutical practice;

4-A. Payment for drugs provided. The commissioner may establish the amount of payment to be made by recipients toward the cost of prescription or nonprescription drugs, medication and medical supplies furnished under this program as long as, for persons at or below 185% of the federal poverty line, the total cost for any covered purchase of a prescription or nonprescription drug or medication provided under the basic