In Review: The legislative session started and got right to work. There was a hearing on HB 1087 (Licensing of Insurers/PBMs), which was just a Department of Insurance clarifying bill, but the North Dakota Pharmacists Association requested numerous anti-PBM amendments be added, including amending the definition of “covered entity” to remove the reference in statute that states says the law does not include self-funded ERISA plans. Granted, the Association did not have any of the amendments available at the hearing but said they would provide them at a later time. There also was a hearing on HB 1114 (Insulin Drugs/Supplies Mandates/Cap) in the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee. Both bills will be discussed in committee work at a later time. Finally, the copay accumulator bill was introduced as HB 1216 but has not been scheduled for a hearing but assigned to the House Industry, Business, and Labor (IBL) Committee. This issue was debated in the 2023 session, a bill draft was discussed and received a favorable recommendation at the Interim Employee Benefits Program Committee last June despite its high cost.

Up Next: There is a hearing on SB 2076 (Medicaid Prior Authorization) in the Senate Human Services Committee that is scheduled for Tuesday, January 14^, at 9:30 AM.

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