In Review: The Committee on Public Health voted to pass two bills PCMA previously testified on. The first is a prior authorization bill that requires a carrier to have the burden of proving that a prescription is not medically necessary. The other bill is a ban on step therapy for chronic conditions. Comptroller Sean Scanlon (D) is requesting a fiscal note for the state employee plan on the ban on step therapy bill. We believe the Comptroller is concerned about the costs associated with the bill. PCMA also met with House Speaker Matthew Ritter (D) to discuss these Senate bills. Previously, these bills were introduced in the Joint Insurance and Real Estate Committee, but the Senate Democrats forced the bills into the Committee on Public Health. PCMA is working with the Speaker and House chair of Insurance and Real Estate to prevent these from reaching the House floor for a vote.

If you have any questions, please contact Sam Hallemeier at shallemeier@pcmanet.org.