In Review: Legislators in the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee held hearings on various PBM bills last week. On HB 879/SB 595 – a bill to address copay accumulators – PCMA changed its position to favorable with amendments based on feedback from the sponsor (Del. Johnson (D)) that he would amend his bill to require that a manufacturer coupon would be honored for the entire plan year, among other changes. PCMA opposed several bills dealing with white bagging (HB 876 and HB 1368) and requiring 85% of drug company rebates passed-through to patients at the point-of-sale (HB 1270) and provided testimony to the committee. PCMA also opposed HB 726, which proposes to apply the PBM statute to ERISA self-insured plans. A bill regarding step therapy (HB 1423) was removed from the hearing schedule.

Up Next: The bills will be considered in the subcommittee on March 5 at 11:00 A.M.

If you have any questions, please contact Heather Cascone at hcascone@pcmanet.org.