Requestor
Sarah Kotler
Organization/Agency
Kingswood Transparency Group, LLC
Requested Information
Pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act, Md. Code Ann., Gen. Prov. §§ 4-101 et seq. (the “PIA”), I write to request certain records related to certain pharmacy benefit programs and services utilized by the Howard County Public School System (“HCPSS”) between January 1, 2024, and the present. I request that you provide, in a searchable and analyzable electronic format where available (Gen. Prov. § 4-205(c)) and by electronic mail, copies of all documents listed below:
1. Health insurance plan descriptions related to pharmacy benefits, including summary plan descriptions (“SPD”), summary benefit coverage (“SBC”), benefit guides, notices of plan changes, or any similar documents describing Alternate Funding Programs or International Sourcing Programs;
2. Templates, examples, or other instructions or guidance you received from third parties relating to revising your plan descriptions, SPDs, or benefit guides to enable Alternate Funding Programs or International Sourcing Programs;
3. Any agreements or service contracts between you and a third party relating to the provision or implementation of Alternate Funding Programs or International Sourcing Programs;
4. Marketing materials created by you or any vendors with which you work relating to Alternate Funding Programs or International Sourcing Programs;
5. Templates for plan member authorizations and/or disclosures related to International Sourcing Programs;
6. Authorization forms, disclosures, “welcome packets,” benefit letters, or other template documents provided to or created by you to implement Alternate Funding Programs or International Sourcing Programs;
7. Drug lists, formularies, or any similar documents showing that select medicines are available to plan members through Alternate Funding Programs, International Sourcing Programs, assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical manufacturers (“Manufacturer Assistance Programs”), or other cost-containment services, whether developed by you or third parties working with you;
8. Reports or summaries from third parties, or internal calculations, showing any savings you realized on specialty drug spend by utilizing Alternate Funding Programs, International Sourcing Programs, or other cost-containment services;
9. Records that show the number of plan members receiving specialty medicines through International Sourcing Programs during the relevant time period, broken down by date and specialty drug; and
10. Records that show the number of plan members receiving specialty medicines through Alternate Funding Programs during the relevant time period, broken down by type of service, date, and specialty drug.
1. Health insurance plan descriptions related to pharmacy benefits, including summary plan descriptions (“SPD”), summary benefit coverage (“SBC”), benefit guides, notices of plan changes, or any similar documents describing Alternate Funding Programs or International Sourcing Programs;
2. Templates, examples, or other instructions or guidance you received from third parties relating to revising your plan descriptions, SPDs, or benefit guides to enable Alternate Funding Programs or International Sourcing Programs;
3. Any agreements or service contracts between you and a third party relating to the provision or implementation of Alternate Funding Programs or International Sourcing Programs;
4. Marketing materials created by you or any vendors with which you work relating to Alternate Funding Programs or International Sourcing Programs;
5. Templates for plan member authorizations and/or disclosures related to International Sourcing Programs;
6. Authorization forms, disclosures, “welcome packets,” benefit letters, or other template documents provided to or created by you to implement Alternate Funding Programs or International Sourcing Programs;
7. Drug lists, formularies, or any similar documents showing that select medicines are available to plan members through Alternate Funding Programs, International Sourcing Programs, assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical manufacturers (“Manufacturer Assistance Programs”), or other cost-containment services, whether developed by you or third parties working with you;
8. Reports or summaries from third parties, or internal calculations, showing any savings you realized on specialty drug spend by utilizing Alternate Funding Programs, International Sourcing Programs, or other cost-containment services;
9. Records that show the number of plan members receiving specialty medicines through International Sourcing Programs during the relevant time period, broken down by date and specialty drug; and
10. Records that show the number of plan members receiving specialty medicines through Alternate Funding Programs during the relevant time period, broken down by type of service, date, and specialty drug.
Date Received
Status
Submitted