(a) The Alabama Medicaid Agency shall utilize a Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee within the agency for the purpose of advising and assisting Medicaid in the development of a preferred drug plan pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1396r-8.

(b) The Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee shall be comprised and consist of three clinical pharmacists licensed to practice in the State of Alabama and at least five physicians licensed to practice medicine in the State of Alabama. Physician members will be appointed by the Medicaid Commissioner from a list of at least two nominees for each position submitted by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. Clinical pharmacist members will be nominated by the Alabama Pharmacy Association and appointed by the Medicaid Commissioner. Members of the Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee should be enrolled Medicaid providers and have experience developing or practicing under a preferred drug list. It is further provided that the committee shall reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state. A report shall be made annually to the Legislature detailing the extent to which this provision has been implemented.

(c) Members of the Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee will serve staggered two-year terms and may be reappointed to the committee for additional terms.

(d) The Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee shall meet at least quarterly and may meet at other times as needed and called by the Medicaid Commissioner and committee chairman. Meetings of the Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee responsible for recommending classes of drugs to the Medicaid Commissioner for inclusion in the Medicaid Preferred Drug Plan shall meet the requirements of the State's open meetings law and documents relating to a recommendation made by the committee to limit access to a drug shall be available under the open records law.