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Week 1 Update: Legislative days 1 – 4

Georgia’s 2021 legislative session convened on Monday, January 11, and, as always, GPhA was there. With COVID-19 still raging, safety protocols at the Capitol include mask wearing, no access to third floor rope lines, and office visits with legislators by appointment. There is also a testing station where legislators and legislative staff can be tested and several legislators did test positive for COVID-19.

Hot off the contentious presidential election and Georgia U.S. Senate runoffs, security was tight and there is expected to be attention paid to Georgia’s elections process. In addition, while Georgia’s economy is looking much stronger than many states, the state budget will also garner significant attention.

On the pharmacy front, week one was a relatively quiet one in terms of bills being introduced, but it proved busy behind the scenes reviewing draft legislation which may impact pharmacy and engaging in stake holder discussions. Many of those discussions focused on the role pharmacists have played in combatting COVID-19 including their role in authorizing and administering the COVID-19 vaccine in Phase 1A. Pharmacists have been able to do this pursuant to U.S. HHS authorization under the PREP Act as well as Governor Kemp’s Executive Order as current Georgia law does not contemplate this authority for pharmacists.

GPhA is working with the state and other stakeholders to change Georgia law to allow pharmacists to continue to administer the COVID-19 vaccine after the period of emergency as well as expanding vaccines pharmacists can administer via protocol to include all ACIP recommended vaccines for adults.

Week 1 Legislation

HB 73

Introduced by Rep. Hugley, this legislation proposes to limit copays for insulin in the commercial and Medicaid managed care space to no more than $50 per thirty-day supply. In addition, it requires insurers and Medicaid CMOs to file an annual report to the state identifying the twenty five most expensive drugs on the plan, and the frequency of provision of those drugs.

Next update

With no legislative days the week of January 18 (House will be focusing on appropriations subcommittee meetings), the week 2 legislative update will be provided on February 1.