Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Wednesday signed the 2021-2022 state budget. Included in the budget is Boilerplate Section 1625, which ensures that independent pharmacies with common ownership of seven or fewer stores would continue to receive the enhanced dispensing fee they have been receiving since earlier this year.

The Legislature attempted to make changes to the Boilerplate to reduce the dispensing fee for certain medications, but the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) was able to convince legislators of the value of this benefit and ensured that the full amount will continue to be given to independent pharmacies in the coming fiscal year.