2020 Legislative Update: Week 1
Leading into Georgia’s 2020 legislative session, it was clear that issues pertaining to pharmacy were going to be front and center. The week before legislative session, on January 7, The House Insurance Committee and the House Special Committee on Access to Care convened to hear from patients, pharmacists, and physicians on PBM and managed care practices impacting Georgia’s patients, providers, and taxpayers.
Following the hearing, the House GOP issued a press release declaring its intention to ‘reverse the corporate takeover of Georgia Healthcare’ by introducing legislation that aims to: (1) bring true transparency to the prescription drug market; (2) seek a carve out of prescription drug benefits from Medicaid managed care; and (3) bring true oversight to PBMs and CMOs. Click here for the full press release.
Needless to say, GPhA fully supports these initiatives and looks forward to an exciting and busy 2020 legislative session that holds the potential to continue to bring true change to Georgia and improve conditions for pharmacy patients and pharmacies across the state. GPhA is grateful for the leadership and determination of the House GOP to continue to tackle problematic PBM practices.
Caroline Womack joins the GPhA advocacy team
In other huge news — news that has reverberated throughout Georgia’s government affairs community and the Capitol — GPhA has expanded its legislative team at the capitol by bringing on veteran lobbyist Caroline Womack to assist Greg Reybold and Cindy Shepherd. Caroline is one of the foremost healthcare lobbyists at the Capitol and offers a unique perspective and expertise in that she represented PCMA, the PBM industry’s trade association, for several years. The perspective, expertise, value, and work ethic she will bring to GPhA’s advocacy efforts is something for all of us to be excited about as we begin the session.
Week 1
Georgia’s 2020 legislative session convened on Monday, January 13, and GPhA was there. While none of GPhA’s legislative priorities were introduced, legislative days 1 through 3 were busy nonetheless with GPhA engaging in many discussions with legislators. While typically the first week can be light on pharmacy legislation, this year there were several pieces of legislation that GPhA will be tracking.
SB 293: Surprise Billing
Introduced by Senator Hoefstetler, the Balance Billing Consumer Protection Act looks to address the issue of surprise billing of patients. While this issue is seen most frequently in the emergency room setting, and it is not typically a problem in the retail pharmacy world, this bill is broadly written and potentially implicates retail pharmacies. As a result, GPhA will look to monitor and engage on this legislation, as well as other expected legislation, and ensure that pharmacy’s perspective is considered and understood.
HB 759: Annual Drug Update
Representative Parrish introduced the annual drug update bill which looks to update Georgia law with regard to controlled substances and dangerous drugs.
HB 791: Maintenance meds, 90-day supply
Representative Stephens introduced this bill which seeks to authorize a pharmacist to dispense up to a 90-day supply of a maintenance medication under certain conditions. This authorization would not extend to controlled substances.
Pharmacists and student pharmacists at the capitol
While GPhA is at the capitol daily advocating for pharmacists and their patients, the true voice and the true strength of the association lies with you, our members. That is why is so important that your legislators hear from you, their constituents, on issues that impact pharmacy.
With GPhA’s legislative priorities soon to be introduced, it is critical that our member pharmacists and student pharmacists continue to participate in GPhA’s Pharmacists at the Capitol and Day at the Dome events. Stay tuned as we will be releasing our first dates soon.
With no legislative days the week of January 20, the next legislative update will come on February 4 and will cover legislative days 4 – 8.
