In Review: The full Senate Appropriations Committee held Committee Work on HB 1584 (remove ERISA exemption) and gave it a “do pass as amended” recommendation. The amendment that was passed scaled back the proposed staffing and restructured how the Department of Insurance would be funded to be able to enforce the bill language. The bill was then heard on the Senate floor and passed as amended by a vote of 42-5. Our coalition worked extremely hard, but the feedback received from the elected officials was that they understood the issues with their bill, but could not vote against it and then go back to face the pharmacists in their districts back home. SB 2370, which formerly was an insulin copay bill but was amended (or, as some refer to it, hoghoused) to be a 340B reporting bill, received a “do not pass as amended” recommendation from the House Human Services Committee. The reporting entities included hospitals, wholesalers, pharmacies, and manufacturers, but also include PBMs, for which the reporting was not related to 340B. SB 2370 was then heard on the House floor and passed by a vote of 65-27. The Senate did not concur with the House on the language for SB 2370, so it will go to a Conference Committee. The Senate concurred with the House language on SB 2280 (prior authorization). Yet again, there was Committee Work in Senate Appropriations on  HB 1216 (copay accumulator), and the committee gave it a “do not pass” recommendation.

Up Next: We anticipate the House will concur with the amendments on HB 1584. Therefore, PCMA will draft a veto letter to send to the Governor. The Conference Committee on SB 2370 will be appointed this week and will meet.

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