Legislative update: 2019 week 8
Week 8
Week 8 saw legislative days 26-29 tick by much activity, particularly on day 29, which is known as crossover day.
Crossover day is the last day a bill may crossover from its originating chamber (e.g., from the House to the Senate). If a bill does not crossover, it is no longer viable that session, although its contents may be subsequently added to a viable bill.
In light of the importance of crossover day, tensions ran high with several bills vying to make the cut.
The good news for pharmacists and their patients is that GPhA’s priority legislation, HB 233 (pharmacy anti-steering) and HB 323 (update to Pharmacy Patient Protection Act) both crossed over on legislative day 26 thus alleviating much of the stress on crossover day itself. It is also worth noting that these bills passed the House in style with only one “no” vote between the two.
Here are the bills that GPhA is watching that made crossover … and those that didn’t.
Bills that made crossover
- HB 63 (step therapy override)
HB 158 (HIV retroantiviral meds) - HB 213 (hemp farming act)
- HB 290 (pilot program to provide preexposure prophylaxis drug assistance to at risk persons)
- HB 324 (Haleigh’s Hope – low THC cultivation & sale)
- HB 483 (annual drug update)
- HB 551 (kratom regulation)
- SB 56 (out-of-network “surprise” billing)
- SB 92 (restricting licensing actions based on federal student loan default)
- SB 106 (Patients First Act — Medicaid waivers)
- SB 118 (telemedicine/telehealth)
- SB 121 (PDMP revisions including access by AG in connection with DCH Medicaid fraud unit)
- SB 142 (requiring statement that health policy is fully insured on identification cards)
- SB 195 (Prescription Drug Benefits Freedom of Information Act — prior authorizations)
Bills that failed to crossover
- HB 42 (restricting licensing actions based on federal student loan default)
- HB 84 (surprise billing)
- HB 112 (age restrictions to purchase OTC cough syrup)
- HB 198 (Certificate of Need)
- HB 214 (vaccine protocol agreements revisions)
- HB 256 (requiring authorized handlers of controlled substances to be in possession only in usual course of business)
- HB 385 (requiring statement that health policy is fully insured on identification cards)
- HB 416 (establishing state vaccine consumer protection office)
- SB 74 (Certificate of Need)
- SB 145 (provide for tiered network standards)
- SB 151 (sought to create Office of Health Strategy and Coordination)
- SB 189 (production of medical records)
- SB 223 (kratom)
