HB 174, legislation that requires a rate floor for “local” pharmacies, unanimously passed the House on March 3 and was referred to the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee. Chain pharmacies oppose the bill because it applies to local pharmacies only.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy issued the following bulletins:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Three PBM reform bills community pharmacies supported were unanimously approved by the Senate Business and Insurance Committee and will now advance to the full Senate.
Also in Oklahoma, NACDS and the Your Care Coalition rallied support for SB 741, the test and treat bill, before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on March 3. The bill title was amended and passed out of the committee. The next action will be on the Senate floor.
Also in Oklahoma, SB 806, Food is Medicine legislation that would improve access to important nutrition services for SoonerCare beneficiaries by incentivizing improvements in their health and controlling healthcare costs by seeking a 1115 waiver, passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and was referred to the full Senate. NACDS sent the Senators a support letter.
Finally in Oklahoma, legislation all pharmacies support, SB 906 by Sen. Paul Rosino (R), increasing the retail pharmacy technician to pharmacist ratio from 2:1 to 4:1, which is what is currently the ratio in other practice settings, cleared the Senate Health and Human Service Committee and referred to the Senate floor.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
SB 154, legislation prohibiting pharmaceutical manufacturers from interfering in contracts between 340B entities and pharmacies, passed the Senate and passed the House Health and Human Services Committee with 8-5 vote.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) recently posted a consent order with Express Scripts citing multiple violations of PBM laws and rules in the state, including improper payments regarding 277 claims, which adversely affected 40 pharmacies in the state. Express Scripts must pay a civil penalty of $250,000.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) briefed health partners on the measles outbreak throughout Texas. DSHS is posting updates on Tuesdays and Fridays when there are new cases to report.
Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) issued an updated Pharmacy Provider Procedure Manual.
Also in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) appointed Heisha Freeman as a public member to the Board of Pharmacy, replacing Garrett Marquis who resigned. Freeman's term will expire on August 31, 2029.
Finally in Texas, March 14 marks the 60th day of the 89th Regular Legislature Session, and the deadline for House and Senate members to file a bill.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
HB 519, legislation addressing the 340B drug discount program, passed the House and was introduced in the Senate. This bill would prohibit a pharmaceutical manufacturer from restricting, prohibiting or otherwise interfering with a 340B entity's ability to acquire a 340B drug or participate in the 340B drug discount program.
Also in Utah, HB 257, legislation related to health insurance pharmacy benefits, passed the House and was introduced in the Senate. This bill would require a health benefit plan to ensure pharmaceutical rebates are used for certain purposes to benefit enrollees and require a PBM offers certain options to self-funded health benefit plans that (1) comply with provisions of Subsections 31A-22-643(4) and (5), collectively and individually; and (2) do not include spread pricing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
After an intense advocacy effort compressed into a 60-day legislative session, pharmacy scored a major victory in Richmond this session with the passage of SB 875 and HB 2610, companion Medicaid Managed Care PBM reform bills. The bills overwhelmingly passed the General Assembly in a bipartisan vote. The bills would require the Medicaid managed care plans to contract with a single PBM under terms set by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). The contract would require:
NACDS issued an NACDS RxIMPACT action alert and urges members with operations in the Commonwealth to contact Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) to express how critical these bills are to patient access and pharmacy viability. Should he sign the bill, Virginia would join Ohio and Kentucky as the third state to reform PBM practices in Medicaid Managed Care under a single PBM.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
HB 1520 and SB 5513, identical pharmacists’ scope expansion of practice bills, failed to get scheduled for a public hearing this session. To advance the independent authority legislation next session, pharmacies need to engage in the Sunrise Review process and submit support letters by April 1.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
