NCPA's state government affairs team tirelessly tracks and engages with state legislation and regulation across the country, with our priorities including comprehensive PBM reform, PBM regulation enforcement, and Medicaid managed care reform. In this recurring section of qAM, we'll be providing readers with a regular recap of recent state government affairs activity relating to pharmacy reimbursement. Let's jump in.
- NCPA submitted comments in support of Tennessee HB 1959, legislation that would prohibit PBMs from owning pharmacies, ahead of a House Insurance Committee hearing. The bill was voted favorably 16-3 from the committee. Counterpart SB 2040 continues to move in the Senate with a second hearing next week.
- NCPA submitted written testimony in support of two PBM reform bills in Ohio. HB 229 would create a new regulatory framework for PBMs, while HB 192 would create an oversight structure. In our HB 192 comments, we urged amendments to include reimbursement provisions such as a NADAC+ floor in the commercial market.
- We also wrote in support of Kansas PBM reform legislation SB 360, which was heard this week by the House Committee on Insurance.
- NCPA helped a legislator in New Hampshire with a PBM-related request.
- Our eyes are on Alabama SB 345, which would change the definition of "independent pharmacy" for purposes of the state's new PBM reform law and expanding it to any pharmacy "unaffiliated" with PBMs.
- We are also working with partners to assess fast moving amendments on drug pricing legislation in Virginia, SB 481/HB 271, now headed to the governor. If signed, Virginia would be the first state to enact a Maximum Fair Price policy at the state level. NCPA will report on this development in greater detail soon.
Please check out the NCPA state legislative tracking webpage, where you can see all the bills we are following and connect to our Advocacy page.
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