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Georgia’s 2022 legislative session gaveled in on Monday, January 10, with a light agenda for the day.  All of the committee meetings were canceled and no bills were read.  With the upcoming UGA playoff game later that evening, many had to catch flights to Indianapolis. 

On the pharmacy front, week 1 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 stakeholder discussions.

SB 317

Senator Hufstetler’s bill seeking to authorize physicians to delegate to advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants, the authority to dispense prepackaged medications other than controlled substances as an agent or employee of a clinic. 

This bill was introduced at the end of last session, but read and assigned to committee in week 1.  GPhA will closely monitor this legislation and engage in outstanding concerns.  Senator Hufstetler is a longtime supporter of pharmacy.

HB 867

Representative Dr. Mark  Newton, Chairman of the House Committee of Special Access to Care, pre-filed this legislation.  The goal is to ensure patients are not paying deductibles and copays based on inflated costs at the counter that don’t take into account rebates that PBMs receive.  We anticipate the PBMs to actively resist this legislation.  As this bill greatly increases transparency and reduces costs for patients at the drug counter, GPhA will engage and support on this piece of legislation. 

A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 64 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and licensure of pharmacy benefits managers, so as to revise the definition of “rebate”; to require pharmacy benefits managers to disclose the true net cost and final net cost, if applicable, of prescription drugs to insureds; to require pharmacy benefits managers to calculate cost sharing requirements for insureds based on the true net cost of prescription drugs; to provide for remittance of difference in cost sharing payments by insureds based on final net cost; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

GPhA expects things to heat up in the weeks to come and we look forward to engaging on legislative priorities and issues impacting pharmacy.