An Administration Budget Proposal that would have required data collection from pharmacies next year, in anticipation of a pharmacy tax the following year, was rejected by the House and Senate Republican Caucuses and did not make it into the final budget.
Also in Pennsylvania… two measures championed by pharmacy made advancements as the General Assembly broke for summer recess:
- HB 1800 – Medication Synchronization – was passed out of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, received two floor considerations and then was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a Fiscal Note. We anticipate final action on this bill when they reconvene in the fall.
- HB 353 – Mandatory E-Prescribing for Controlled Substances – After extensive negotiations with the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PMS), the bill was voted out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee last week with support from a number of allies. This bill also had two floor considerations and then was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a Fiscal Note. We also anticipate this bill moving forward in the Fall.
Also in Pennsylvania… In the June 12, 2018, Provider Bulletin, PACE announced new edit criteria for benzodiazepines, sedative hypnotics, muscle relaxants and opioids effective Monday, July 23.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.