In Review: Employee benefit organizations are pushing back against SB 121/HB 226 (Omnibus). Lawmakers are delving into PBM issues, raising crucial questions, and exploring potential bill adjustments that could impact Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA) and AlaskaCare members. The Senate Labor & Commerce Committee is now in its fourth week of gathering insights through invited testimonies. On March 11, the opposition testimony from the Pacific Health Coalition, lasting 45 minutes, highlighted impacts on ERISA plans, excessive cost drivers, and network design limitations; and featured a representative from the Alaska Teamsters Local 595. A notable shift occurred in the House Labor and Commerce Committee meeting on March 11 when the executive director of the pharmacy association stepped back, giving the floor to a pharmacist from the Tanana Chiefs Conference. Though the message remained the same, the change marked a departure from previous presentations. While limited public comments were heard, more are scheduled for upcoming hearings. Moreover, PCMA is collaborating with private unions and employee coalitions to address committee inaccuracies and provide data supporting the bill’s cost implications.

Up Next: The Senate Labor & Commerce Committee has scheduled another hearing for March 20. Invited testimony has not been announced.

If you have any questions, please contact Bill Head at bhead@pcmanet.org.