In Review: Last Monday, HF 4100 (medical debt/copay accumulator) was heard in House Commerce and the bill was amended to remove the language dealing with copay accumulators. Last Tuesday, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard SF 4602 (clone debt collection/copay accumulator). PCMA and member companies provided written and oral testimony. The bill was amended and then laid over for further inclusion in the omnibus bill. It should be noted that the companion to HF 4100, SF 4065, was not heard in the Senate Tax Committee. Last Wednesday, SF 2320 (HIV PEP/PrEP and Pharmacists to Dispense and Administer HIV Drugs) was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. PCMA provided written testimony and the bill was amended with language that would allow step therapy/prior authorization for these drugs if a therapeutic equivalent is available. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. The following new bills were introduced last week: HF 5026 (minimum dispensing fee requirement same as medical assistance), SF 5123 (direct pharmacy dispensing payment of $4.50 per Rx in Section 256B), SF 5112 and HF 4890 (reverse auction modifications). Friday marked the agreed upon first and second committee deadlines (when committee action on bills must occur), which is different than previous years as both deadlines are on the same day.

Up Next: Easter Recess will begin this Wednesday at 5:00 P.M. and will continue until next Tuesday at noon.

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Mack at mmack@pcmanet.org.