Subd. 1. Pharmacist.

All benefits provided by a health maintenance contract relating to expenses incurred for medical treatment or services provided by a licensed physician must include services provided by a licensed pharmacist to the extent a licensed pharmacist's services are within the pharmacist's scope of practice.

Subd. 2. Denial of benefits.

When paying claims for enrollees in Minnesota, a health maintenance organization must not deny payment for medical services covered by an enrollee's health maintenance contract if the services are lawfully performed by a licensed pharmacist.

Subd. 3. Exemptions.

1. (a) This section does not apply to or affect the coverage or reimbursement for medication therapy management services under section 62Q.676 or 256B.0625, subdivisions 5, 13h, and 28a.
2. (b) This section does not apply to managed care organizations or county-based purchasing plans when the plan provides coverage to public health care program enrollees under chapter 256B or 256L.