Legislative update: 2019 week 7
Days 21 through 25 of Georgia’s legislative session were good ones for GPhA’s legislative priorities.
HB 323, which would update the Pharmacy Patient Protection Act, passed the full House unanimously on Monday, March 4. The bill extends certain existing protections to other dispensers and their patients, strengthens anti-mandatory mail order provisions, restricts PBM steering, restricts sharing data for commercial purposes, looks to apply existing accreditation limitations to PBMs, and restrict PBMs from imposing fees/penalties in connection with audits.
Similarly, HB 233 passed the full House virtually unanimously, also on Monday, March 4. Offering testimony in support of the legislation was GPhA member Dr. Jennifer Shannon (owner of Lily’s Pharmacy in Johns Creek) and on behalf of the Georgia Society of Clinical Oncology was its president, Dr. Melissa Dillmon. Both did a wonderful job under trying circumstances.
A pleasant surprise was HHS Chair Sharon Cooper taking note of the more than 90 co-sponsors on this legislation — she pointed out that she doesn’t recall ever seeing so many cosponsors on a healthcare bill. (By way of reminder, this bill would prohibit PBM and insurer “steering” patients to the pharmacies they own, and would prohibit those pharmacies from receiving those prohibited referrals.
Pharmacists at the Capitol
We currently have one event scheduled and are in the process of setting one to two more. Please come to the Capitol and fight for your patients on Wednesday, March 13 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Check out GPhA.org/atthecapitol and sign up!
Legislation introduced in week 7
HB 483: Annual drug update
Introduced by our own Representative Ron Stephens, this is the annual dug update bill keeps current Georgia’s dangerous drug and control substance code sections. This bill was not only introduced in Week 7 but it also was favorably reported by the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.
SB 189: Record-request deadlines
Senator Cowsert introduced this bill which seeks to, amongst other things, impose a hard 30-day deadline (along with daily fines) on providers who are sent records requests from patients and also from litigants seeking medical records.
This legislation was opposed by several provider groups including GPhA and was tabled at its first committee hearing. GPhA has offered several suggested revisions and had a positive conversation with the bill’s author in that regard. We recognize that the ability of patients and litigants to obtain records promptly is important, and we look forward to working with the author to help address the issue while not exposing providers to potential liability for seeking to comply with the law while ensuring patient privacy is protected.
SB 195: Streamlining prior authorizations
Introduced by Senator Hufstetler, this legislation would address problems with prior authorizations, streamline the process, and create an advisory committee regarding the issue. Moving quickly, this bill was favorably reported by the Senate HHS Committee. GPhA is in support of this legislation.
SB 223: Kratom regulation
Senator Mullis introduced SB 223 after chairing a study committee on the issue of Kratom — something that’s proven to be a controversial subject in Georgia. Among other things, this bill would create a state identification of a standard level of kratom alkaloids; establish recommended dosages; restrict access to kratom to people under 18 years of age, and provide for package labeling requirements.
Updates on legislation previously introduced
HB 84: Surprise billing
Representative Richard Smith’s surprise billing legislation was favorably reported (i.e., passed) by the House Insurance Committee.
HB 213: Hemp farming
Representative John Corbett’s Hemp farming bill passed the House this week by substitute.
HB 290: HIV prophylaxis
Representative Cooper’s legislation creating a pilot program to provide pre-exposure prophylaxis drug assistance to people at risk of being infected with HIV was passed by the House via substitute.
HB 324: Low-THC oil production
Representative Gravely’s bill allowing the cultivation and sale of low-THC oil in Georgia was passed by the Regulated Industries Committee via substitute.
SB 106: Medicaid waivers
Senator Tillery’s legislation proposing key Medicaid waivers that would bring federal dollars into Georgia’s healthcare system was passed out of the Senate.
SB 121: PDMP data and law enforcement access
Senator Walker’s update to Georgia’s PDMP law was favorably reported by the Senate HHS Committee via substitute.
SB 142: Indication of insurance coverage
Senator Walker’s bill requiring that a statement indicating that a patient’s health policy is fully insured is included on their health insurance identification card was favorably reported by the Senate Insurance & Labor Committee.
