2022 Sine Die at the State Capitol
The 40th day of the legislative session is known as Sine Die which has the Latin meaning, indefinitely without a future date being designated. Sine Die fell on April 4 this year and the day was a long and eventful one. There were discussions that this last day felt and appeared different than in years past, but you could still see the anticipation, stress, and last-ditch efforts of lobbyists and legislators trying to pass bills before the clock struck midnight.
The lobbyists had their credit cards ready for any extra food that needed to be ordered and the deliveries of water and Coke products were constant throughout the day. At a certain point, you could smell the coffee brewing to prepare the assembly members for the midnight hours.
The rope line was buzzing with people waiting to discuss bills and amendments before final votes were cast. In previous years, notes were handed to a runner, and they would give it to the designated legislator, who would then decide if they would leave the floor to discuss a bill. Now, most people just text or try to speak to a lawmaker during recess.
At midday, large groups of people, journalists, and news cameras appeared in the North Wing to witness Governor Kemp sign HB 1013, the Mental Health Parity Act, into law. This bipartisan bill was sponsored by Speaker David Ralston and will allow Georgians to have more access to mental health and substance abuse care. Speaker Ralston, Governor Kemp, and Lieutenant Governor Duncan spoke before the signing. Cheers were heard through the gold dome for this landmark legislation.
Our legislative policy committee met over the summer to go over legislative agenda items. Our main legislative priority was to get more money, around 3-5 dollars per claim, in the budget for independents to increase dispensing fees for Medicaid claims. Before the session started, we pivoted to go after a Medicaid carve-out that would have gone into effect in July 2024. The bill got a lot of support early on but ultimately died without garnering a hearing in the Senate. Luckily, we were able to pivot back to our original priority and work with appropriations to add money in the budget. The budget committee met early morning hours of Sine Die to go over the final draft, so the next few hours were spent sleuthing around to confirm what was allotted to us. Starting in July 2022, independents will get up to a $4 dispensing fee for Medicaid claims. Also, $250,000 was set aside to conduct an audit of the current Medicaid management organizations and their contracted PBMs, and a report of the findings will go directly to the Chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
Although a carve-out would have been monumental, we achieved our initial priority and some relief for our independent pharmacists will come in July. We are hoping to increase the dispensing fee in the budget next year in addition to whatever our other legislative priorities will be in 2023.
