Legislative update, week 8: March 7
GPhA had a strong turn-out for its Pharmacy Advocacy Event this past Friday, with pharmacists speaking to their senators as well as senators on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee to advocate for HB 900 (PDMP) and HB 916 (DCH audits).
Three events remain and it’s vital that we have good turnout so pharmacists are both seen and heard in the final weeks of the session. Please sign up for one of our four remaining Pharmacy Advocacy Team events at GPhA.org/atthecapitol:
This week in the legislature
Week eight began with cross-over day, February 29, and legislators worked through the day and well into the night in order to pass bills out their respective chambers.
Pharmacy-related bills that passed the House on cross-over day include…
- HB 1043 (creating certain carve outs for hospitals in connection with immunizations)
- HB 722 (now consisting of expanding eligible conditions for use of cannabis oil)
- HB 1058 (amongst other things, defines harm reduction agencies that provide services to individuals at risk of HIV and allows these agencies to distribute syringes, which can currently only be done by pharmacists and practitioners)
- SB 402 (establishment of the State Commission on Narcotic Treatment Programs and a temporary moratorium on the issuance of new licenses to narcotic treatment programs)
GPhA is also monitoring other bills that previously passed their respective chambers:
Bills we SUPPORT
- HB 900: PDMP reform
- HB 916: DCH audits
- HB 926: Drug law (GPhA supports with revision)
- HB 952: State oversight in connection with state board anti-trust immunity (GPhA supports with revision)
- HB 783: Drug update
- HB 588: Pseudoephedrine ID requirements (GPhA supports with revision)
Bills we’re NEUTRAL on
- SB 115: Allowing PAs to prescribe hydrocodone compound products
- SB 230: Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act
- HB 813: Expedited partner therapy for STDs
- HB 886: Mail order — see below
- HB 897: Drug repository program
No bills that GPhA opposes survived crossover.
Bills that did NOT make crossover
Some of the bills GPhA was following with varying degrees of interest that did not make crossover are set forth below.
- HB 1000: Audits of PBMs contracted with the state (GPhA supported)
- SB 381: Dealing with stem cells (GPhA neutral)
- SB 382: Surprise billing (GPhA neutral)
- SB 418: Copying and maintaining of government photo id of people who are presenting prescriptions for Schedule IIs (GPhA opposed)
- HB 875: Patient Access to Specialty Tier Drugs Act (GPhA neutral)
- HB 1077: state-wide referendum on cultivation/sale of cannabis (GPhA neutral)
- HB 1088: adding post-traumatic stress disorder to the conditions authorized for cannabis oil (GPhA neutral)
- HB 1091: establishment of the State Commission on Narcotic Treatment Programs (GPhA neutral)
- SB 291: Affordable Free Mkt Healthcare Act (GPhA neutral)
- SB 299: GA Health Care Transparency Initiative (GPhA neutral)
Other Activity in Week 8
HB 588
HB 588 was considered by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and passed. GPhA is supportive of this bill, although we’re in conversations regarding a few limited revisions we’d like to see. GPhA would like to thank Representative Clark, who presented the bill in committee, for taking the time to meet with GPhA to discuss it.
HB 886
HB 886 (mail order) also passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. House Health and Human Services Committee Chair Sharon Cooper presented the bill in committee prior to its passage. GPhA will continue to monitor this bill as it makes its way through the Senate.
HR 1576
Introduced in Week 8 by Representative Price, it would create a study committee on the pricing of prescription drugs, consisting of five members of the House. GPhA will seek to offer input to this committee should the resolution pass.
