2021 Legislative Update: Week 11
Legislative Days 36- 38
With the number of legislative days dwindling, things are heating up under the gold dome. For GPhA’s priority legislation, SB 46 (pharmacist vaccine expansion), it was another frustrating week with the bill making it through rules, on the calendar for a floor vote and then being withdrawn and recommitted to Rules. GPhA will do everything possible to get this bill across the finish line and we remain optimistic that we will get it through.
HB 653 (pharmacists conducting COVID testing for 12 months after the end of the federal emergency) was favorably reported out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously. It passed out without any amendments or substitutes which was a positive as it was being looked as a potential vehicle for other legislation. It also made it through Senate Rules and can be expected to get a floor vote in the Senate in the final two days of legislative session.
Week 11 proved eventful with bill amendments and substitutions as legislators and lobbyists look to find vehicles to help move legislation forward that has stalled in the committee process. Set forth below is an update of some of those moves as we continue to track issues impacting pharmacy.
HB 316
Representative Stephens’ bill expanding pharmacist to technician ratio to 4-1 provided that 2 of the 4 technicians are certified was passed out of the Senate and now goes to the Governor’s desk for his consideration.
HB 454
Representative Newnan’s bill, providing for certain coverage requirements concerning providers that become out-of-network during a plan year, was favorably reported out of committee via substitute.
HB 645 & HB 601
Representative Gravley’s medical cannabis bill, HB 645, was heard in committee for a second time and was again voted down.
HB 601
Representative Stephen’s bill removing Epidiolex as a Schedule V controlled substance has yet to be heard in a Senate committee.
SB195
Both of these bill’s were substituted into SB 195, which previously dealt with hemp farming.
SB 80
Senator Kirkpatrick’s prior authorization bill was by the House via substitute.
SB 92
Senator Robertson’s legislation prohibiting the sale to and by minors of OTC drug products containing dextromethorphan was completely substituted out in the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee hearing and replaced with legislation authorizing PA’s and NPs to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances in emergency situations pursuant to a protocol.
However, while SB 92 itself was gutted, its language was added into HB 117 via substitute on the Senate side and so still has a pathway forward.
