(1) (a) (I) The state board shall adopt by rule a system to allow medical assistance recipients the option to receive through the mail prescribed maintenance medications used to treat chronic medical conditions.

(II) The state board rules must include the definition of maintenance medications. The rules may allow a medical assistance recipient to receive through the mail up to a three-month supply, or the maximum allowed under federal law, of maintenance medications used to treat chronic medical conditions.

(b) To the extent allowed by federal law, the state department shall require that a medical assistance recipient receiving prescription medication through the mail pay the same copayment amount as a medical assistance recipient receiving prescription medication through any other method. The state department shall encourage medical assistance recipients who choose to receive maintenance medications through the mail to use local retail pharmacies for mail delivery.

(c) A pharmacy may provide maintenance medications through the mail to medical assistance recipients in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws if the pharmacy is enrolled as a provider with the state department and is registered with the state board of pharmacy, created and existing pursuant to section 12-42.5-103, C.R.S.

(d) A nonresident prescription drug outlet doing business in this state shall provide a means for recipients of state medical assistance who have third-party insurance with whom the nonresident prescription drug outlet has a contractual relationship to receive their required pharmacy benefits at a cost to the recipients of no more than the legally allowed state medical assistance copayment. If a third-party insurance carrier's copayment or deductible for pharmacy benefits is larger than the legally allowed state medical assistance copayment, the prescription drug outlet may bill the state medical assistance program for the difference pursuant to state medical assistance reimbursement rules.

(1.5) The state department shall publish on its website and include in the recipient handbook the following information for recipients enrolled in fee-for-service medical assistance programs:

(a) That a medical assistance recipient may use the pharmacy of his or her choice;

(b) That a medical assistance recipient may use a local retail pharmacy for mail delivery of maintenance medications, if offered; and

(c) That the copayment amount for prescription medications is the same at any pharmacy enrolled in the medical assistance program.

(2) The state department shall seek any federal authorization necessary to implement this section.