Legislative Update Crossover
Crossover was Monday, March 6, with hundreds of bills waiting to get called in Rules so they could be eligible for a floor vote. Unfortunately, our bill did not get called but we are not done yet. We are currently looking for a crossed over germane bill that we can attach our prescription adaptation bill to keep it in play.
Last year, we were able to get $250,000 in the budget for an audit of the managed care companies. Recently, it was sent out for bid on the Georgia Procurement Registry. The companies are currently under evaluation and the contract should be awarded soon.
Here are some of the bills that we are following…
HB416 – Pharmacies; authorize qualified pharmacy technicians to administer certain vaccines
GPhA Past President, Sharon Sherrer, and GPhA Tech of the Year, Heather McCleod, came down to the Capitol and testified in front of the House Health Committee in favor of the tech vaccine bill. Their incredible testimonies garnered unanimous votes from the committee to advance the bill to the next stage. The bill made it through Rules and a House floor vote and is now on the Senate side.
HB343 – Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Patients Act; enact
HB 343 will require PBMs to calculate defined cost sharing for insureds at the point of sale. This bill has crossed over and was in a “hearing only” in the Senate Health Committee this week.
GPhA is supporting this legislation as well. Chairman Cooper is carrying this bill which would require health insurance companies to cover comprehensive biomarker testing which can help pinpoint the type of cancer and exact treatment after being diagnosed. This type of blood and tissue testing can eliminate a lot of the “let’s try this treatment/medicine” which can waste precious time during a cancer diagnosis. This bill passed the Senate HHS Committee and is going to Senate Rules.
This bill will require the Department of Community Health to include continuous glucose monitors as a pharmacy benefit for Medicaid recipients. This bill has crossed over and is now on the Senate side.
This bill looks to reign in “white bagging” practices and is sponsored by Representative David Knight. Unfortunately, this bill was one of the many that did not get called in Rules on Crossover.
HB332 – Controlled substances; Schedules I. IV, and V; provide certain provisions
This is the yearly drug update bill sponsored by Chairman Parrish and Chairman Stephens. This bill is currently waiting on a vote on the Senate side.
HB181 – Controlled Substances; mitragynine and hydroxymitragynine are Schedule I; provide
Representative Rick Townsend and the American Kratom Association worked together to come up with compromises on this bill. There will be stricter labeling and products will have to be behind the counter. The age has increased to 21 to buy and possess Kratom. The concentration ratio of mitragynine and hydroxymitragynine have certain limits as well. This bill is now on the Senate side.
This bill will allow the spouses of firefighters, healthcare providers, and law enforcement officers who relocate to Georgia to get their professional license within 90 days of date of receipt of an application as long as previous license was in good standing and not the subject of an investigation. This bill has crossed over to the Senate side.
This bill would allow public and private schools in Georgia to stock and administer glucagon to people with diabetes. Nurses and physicians would be able to rapidly administer these crucial medications in an emergency. This legislation would also allow a public or private school to work directly with glucagon manufacturers or third-party suppliers to obtain the products for free or at fair market or reduced prices.
This Senate bill will cap the cost of insulin at $35 for State Employees. It has crossed over and on the House side now.
SB197 – “Health Care Practitioners Truth and Transparency Act”; enact
Senator Hufstetler introduced this legislation for health care providers to identify and not misrepresent their credentials to patients or in advertisements. In a health care setting where there are multiple types of providers, the health care practitioner shall wear an identifier during all patient encounters that includes the health care practitioner’s name and the type of license or educational degree in sufficient size and worn in a conspicuous manner as to be visible and apparent. Also, the health care practitioner will have to announce what their specialty is (ex. I’m Dr. Smith, Doctor of Pharmacy). Penalties are left up to the board under which the offender is licensed.
Chairman Ron Stephens sponsored introduced this bill to authorize physicians to delegate authority to APRNs and PAs to prescribe Schedule II narcotics. The prescription will be limited not to exceed a 5 day supply for individuals 18 and over except for ADHD patients as long as delegating physicians are pediatricians, family practice, internal medicine or psychiatrists.
This bill looks to expand production, increase transparency, and end lawsuits associated with the licenses. Pharmacies will be able to carry low THC but a subsequent retail license will be required.
– Melissa Reybold, VP of Public Policy
