2022 Legislative Update Days 28-31
Crossover was last Tuesday and luckily, our bill already made it out of the house so we didn’t have the stress of waiting and watching all day and night like some of the others. We are still waiting for a hearing to be scheduled in the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee. It’s getting down to the wire now with only eight legislative days left after today! Some of the bills we have been monitoring did not make it through crossover but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the bill is dead. Sometimes the language in a bill that did not crossover will get inserted into another bill.
HB 1351
Community Health, Department of; pharmacy benefits management for Medicaid program
HB 1351 passed in the House with unanimous votes. We are waiting for a committee hearing. Please continue to call your senator and ask for the support of this bill.
HB 1519
Insurance; prohibit insurers from unilaterally changing network participation contracts impacting coverage, access to, or costs of ancillary services
Representative Knight sponsored this bill which will prohibit insurers from unilaterally changing network participation contracts impacting coverage, access to, or costs of ancillary services, which includes pharmacy services. This bill was assigned to the House Special Committee on Access to Quality Healthcare and passed with unanimous votes. This bill did not make it through crossover.
HB 1279
Controlled substances; certain persons to carry prescription medications in a compartmentalized container
Representative Matthew Gambill’s bill will allow anyone with a chronic disease or anyone over age 65 who have been prescribed one or medications by a physician to carry their prescriptions in a compartmentalized container with the capacity to hold up to a 21 day supply. This bill was heard in the House Health and Human Services Committee where GPhA offered comments regarding the language in the bill. It passed via substitute with unanimous votes in the committee as well as the House. It will now head to the Senate Public Safety Committee but a hearing has not been scheduled.
SB 256
County Boards of Health; comprehensive reorganization
This bill will prohibit the sale of OTC cough syrup containing dextromethorphan to anyone under 18 years of age. GPhA will continue to monitor this legislation.
HB 1453
Crimes and offenses; access to medical cannabis
Representative Sharon Cooper and Representative Micah Gravely are the main sponsors of this bill which looks to revise provisions regarding access to medical cannabis and to provide for accreditation of independent laboratories for testing low THC oil and products. Also, this bill would provide for additional Class 1 and Class 2 production licenses and transfer the operation and maintenance of the Low THC Oil Patient Registry from the Department of Community Health to the Georgia Composite Medical Board. This bill did not make it through crossover.
Bills we are continuing to monitor…
HB 867
Truth in Prescription Pricing for Patients Act
GPhA testified in support of this bill last Friday morning in the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee hearing. This was a hearing only so no votes were cast. GPhA will continue to monitor and support this bill.
SB 341
Healthcare Services; guidelines for the prior authorization of a prescribed medication for chronic conditions requiring ongoing medication therapy
Senators Kirkpatrick, Burke, Watson and Hufstetler’s bill provides guidelines for the prior authorization for chronic conditions requiring ongoing medication therapy under certain circumstances to prevent, diagnose, treat or relieve symptoms of a chronic condition for at least a year. GPhA testified in support of this bill last week at the Health and Human Services hearing and it passed with unanimous votes. This bill is now is headed to the House.
HB 902
Insurance; reduce out-of-pocket costs for consumers requiring insulin
This bill would limit total cost of insulin not to exceed $100 for a 30-day supply regardless of the amount or type of insulin needed to fill a covered person’s prescription. This bill did not make it through Crossover.
HR 823
House Study Committee on Pharmacy Deserts
A creation of a House study committee on identifying pharmacy deserts within the state and to find solutions to eliminate them. This study will examine programs in Georgia and other states and look for sources of revenue for pharmacy desert programs.
HB 963
Controlled substances; Schedule I and IV; change certain provisions
The annual drug bill passed through both chambers and is waiting on the Governor’s signature.
SB 518
“Prescription Drug Rebate Financial Protection Act”
This bill was introduced by Senator Hufstetler which requires all health insurers to pass along no less that 80 percent of all prescription drug rebates to enrollees that such insurer receives from 3rd parties relating to prescription drugs. This bill did not make it through crossover.
HB 1276
Community Health, Department of; statistical reports data relating to state health plans be posted on department website
Representative Hawkins’ bill that requires statistical reports relating to state health plans and prescription drug spending be posted on the department website. Passed through the House and was heard in the Senate Insurance and Labor committee hearing last Friday.
HB 1400
Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission; subject to state procurement laws
This bill increases the Class I production licenses from 2 to 9 in 100,000 square feet of cultivation space and increases the Class II production licenses from 4 to 19 in 50,000 square feet of cultivation space. This bill did not make it through crossover.
If you have any questions, please reach out to me at mreybold@gpha.org.
Melissa Reybold
