In Review: The 67th Wyoming Legislative session started last Monday, and given it is a budget session, things are moving quickly. HB 173 was received for introduction and included topics such as pharmacy networks, mail order, and cost sharing. By the end of the week, and after much work by our lobbyists on the ground and PCMA members, the bill was not officially introduced, so it is dead for the session. HB 14 (Prior Authorization/Gold Carding/Step Therapy) was officially introduced and heard last Wednesday in the House Labor, Health & Social Services Committee. Right before the hearing, we were made aware of an amendment by the Board of Medicine that would add prior authorization to the definition of “practicing medicine.” We agreed to work with the Board of Medicine after the hearing. Therefore, the Board of Medicine proposed their amendment to the Committee but requested it not be voted on as the language was being finessed. During the hearing, all the parties involved came together as a group and said this was a highly negotiated bill that included close to over 100 hours of negotiations. Therefore, with amendments, all the parties agreed, the amendments were adopted, and the bill passed the Committee. Finally, SF 100, which is a pharmacy prompt pay bill, was introduced. PCMA and its members worked on language for two possible options for SF 100 and requested a meeting with the Wyoming Pharmacy Association to discuss with them. That meeting was held last Thursday, the options were presented, and after working through the weekend, the parties were able to come to an agreed-upon language.
Up Next: SF 100 will be heard in the Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee on Tuesday, February 20. PCMA and its members are working on language relative to the Board of Medicine amendment to HB 14, and there is a meeting scheduled with all the stakeholders on Wednesday.
If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Mack at mmack@pcmanet.org.
