In Review: There has been a flurry of legislative activity in Oklahoma as the 2024 session got underway this month. Several bills, spearheaded by Senator Greg McCortney (R), have made progress out of committee, highlighting another year focused on legislative efforts to further regulate PBMs’ operations within the state. Key bills include:

• SB 1390: This bill, an Attorney General PBM regulation bill, aims to enhance the oversight of PBMs by the Attorney General’s office. Discussions before and after the committee hearing have resulted in proposed amendments being offered to Sen. McCortney.
• SB 1670: A bill focused on PBM audits and payment to pharmacies at acquisition cost, also came out of committee. A stakeholder meeting has been requested to further deliberate on its implications, emphasizing a desire for dialogue on the more technical aspects of the bill.
• SB 1581: A fiduciary bill sponsored by Senator Carri Hicks (D) also came out of committee, but its progress appears to be stymied, with Sen. McCortney not showing an inclination towards moving it forward at this time.
• SB 1915 & SB 1916: These bills deal with co-pay applicability and create an obligation of PBMs to compensate pharmacists for information requests in certain circumstances, respectively. While SB 1916 does not seem to have garnered enthusiasm for further advancement, Sen. McCortney is seeking more information on SB 1915, indicating an interest in its provisions related to patients’ co-pay responsibilities and what the sponsor, Senator Rob Standridge (R), is trying to accomplish.

Our meeting between PCMA, local member counsel, and Sen. McCortney last week demonstrated a willingness to have industry engagement with legislative processes. The discussions around specific amendments to SB 1390 and the request for a stakeholder meeting on SB 1670 reflect an ongoing negotiation aimed at addressing the complexities of the many PBM bills being considered this year. HB 3379, Representative Marcus McEntire’s 340B bill, was heard in committee yesterday.

If you have any questions, please contact Melodie Shrader at mshrader@pcmanet.org.