Gov. Gavin Newson’s released his May Revised 2020-21 Budget last week projecting a $54.3 billion deficit. Since the state’s constitution requires that the legislature submit a balanced budget to the Governor by June 15, 2020, and that the Governor must sign it before the start of the next fiscal year on July 1, 2020, legislators are scrambling to hold hearings on the proposed massive cuts. NACDS and the California Retailers Association submitted a joint letter to both the Senate and Assembly Budget Committee Chairs strongly opposing the proposed elimination of Medi-Cal reimbursement of pharmacist-delivered services such as providing self-administered hormonal contraceptives, vaccines, nicotine replacement products, travel medications, naloxone directly to patients and PEP/PrEP for HIV prevention.
Also in California... In advance of the Assembly Business & Professions Committee hearing, NACDS and the California Retailers Association submitted a joint letter opposing SB 2983 by Assembly Member Chris Holden, because it would prohibit pharmacies from automatically contacting prescribers to authorize a prescription for any dangerous drug or device for more than a 7-day supply refill without authorization from the prescriber or patient. Further, we objected to the requirement that a pharmacy obtain separate authorization for each prescription.
Also in California... The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services debated health care cuts proposed by the Department of Finance, which included cuts to the proposed Diabetes Prevention Program. NACDS is a member of a broad-based coalition building support to advance Medi-Cal funding for Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs).
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.