2022 Legislative Update Days 25-27

Things are heating up at the Capitol with the crossover date approaching tomorrow, March 15.  Many bills are waiting to be heard and passed in the House or Senate so they can “crossover” to the other chamber for consideration.  Luckily, our bill, HB 1351, passed unanimously in the House and is waiting to be scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee.  We will be asking you to reach out to committee members in the coming days.  We have a lot of work to do with only 12 legislative days left after crossover so please keep an eye out for the next call to action. 

HB 1351

Pharmacy Benefits Management for Medicaid Program

HB 1351 passed in the House with unanimous votes.  It has been assigned to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee.  We don’t have a date for the hearing yet. 

HB 1519

Prohibit Insurers from Changing Network Participation Contracts

Representative Knight sponsored this bill which will prohibit insurers from unilaterally changing network participation contracts impacting coverage, access to, or costs of ancillary services, which includes pharmacy services.  This bill was assigned to the House Special Committee on Access to Quality Healthcare and passed with unanimous votes.  It is scheduled for a House vote on crossover day.  GPhA will continue to monitor and support this legislation.  

HB 1279

Prescription Medications in a Compartmentalized Container

Representative Matthew Gambill’s bill will allow anyone with a chronic disease or anyone over age 65 who has been prescribed one or more medications by a physician to carry their prescriptions in a compartmentalized container with the capacity to hold up to a 21 day supply.  This bill was heard in the House Health and Human Services Committee where GPhA offered comments regarding the language in the bill.  It passed via substitute with unanimous votes in the committee as well as the House.  It will now head to the Senate Public Safety Committee.         

SB 256

Dextromethorphan

This bill will prohibit the sale of OTC cough syrup containing dextromethorphan to anyone under 18 years of age. 

 

HB 1453

Access to Medical Cannabis

Representative Sharon Cooper and Representative Micah Gravely are the main sponsors of this bill which looks to revise provisions regarding access to medical cannabis and to provide for accreditation of independent laboratories for testing low THC oil and products.  Also, this bill would provide for additional Class 1 and Class 2 production licenses and transfer the operation and maintenance of the Low THC Oil Patient Registry from the Department of Community Health to the Georgia Composite Medical Board.  This bill passed through committee via substitute and is on its way to the House on crossover day.    

 

Bills we are continuing to monitor…

 

HB 867

Truth in Prescription Pricing for Patients Act

Truth in Prescription Pricing for Patients Act was heard in the Special Committee on Access to Quality Healthcare.  GPhA was present and testified in support along with APCI, Medical Association of Georgia, ATAP (Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions), and Georgians for a Heathy Future.  The bill passed the House and is scheduled in the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee later this week.      

 

SB 341

Guidelines for the Prior Authorization of a Prescribed Medication for Chronic Conditions

Senators Kirkpatrick, Burke, Watson, and Hufstetler’s bill provides guidelines for the prior authorization for chronic conditions requiring ongoing medication therapy under certain circumstances to prevent, diagnose, treat or relieve symptoms of a chronic condition for at least a year.   GPhA testified in support of this bill today at the Health and Human Services hearing and it passed with unanimous votes.  This bill is now is headed to the House.     

 

HB 902

Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs for Consumers Requiring Insulin

This bill would limit the total cost of insulin not to exceed $100 for a 30-day supply regardless of the amount or type of insulin needed to fill a covered person’s prescription.  This bill hasn’t had much movement since January but GPhA will continue to monitor this bill. 

HR 823

House Study Committee on Pharmacy Deserts

Creation of a House study committee on identifying pharmacy deserts within the state and to find solutions to eliminate them.  This study will examine programs in Georgia and other states and look for sources of revenue for pharmacy desert programs. 

HB 963

Schedule I and IV Controlled Substances

The annual drug bill passed through the House and is now in the Senate. 

SB 518

Prescription Drug Rebate Financial Protection Act

This bill was introduced by Senator Hufstetler which requires all health insurers to pass along no less than 80 percent of all prescription drug rebates to enrollees that such insurer receives from 3rd parties relating to prescription drugs.  GPhA will monitor this legislation.  

HB 1276

Statistical Reports Data relating to State Health Plans 

Representative Hawkins’ bill that requires statistical reports relating to state health plans and prescription drug spending be posted on the department website.  Passed through the House and will be heard in the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee. 

HB 1400

Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission

This bill increases the Class I production licenses from 2 to 9 in 100,000 square feet of cultivation space and increases the Class II production licenses from 4 to 19 in 50,000 square feet of cultivation space.  This bill passed through committee and will head to the House for a vote on Crossover.    

 

If you have any questions, please reach out to me at mreybold@gpha.org. 

Melissa Reybold

GPhA VP Public Policy