Critical Medicaid reform legislation is one step closer to reality as HB 3388 by Rep. J.D. Sheffield was unanimously passed out of the House Public Health Committee on April 17. The bill will now go to the House Calendars Committee, where it will be scheduled for debate on the House floor. The legislation will increase reimbursement under Medicaid managed care by requiring PBMs in Medicaid managed care to establish a reimbursement floor for pharmacies, which guarantees pharmacies will at least be paid the Medicaid fee-for-service rate of the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) plus a professional dispensing fee. As a compromise, the bill removes longstanding opposition to the bill from the health insurance lobby. The version approved will increase pharmacy reimbursements by approximately $40 million per year over the current PBM-controlled system.
In addition, HB 2766 by Rep. John Zerwas passed out of the Public Health Committee on a 9-0 vote April 17 with TPA's support after TPA Member A.J. Patel testified in support of the bill. The legislation requires electronic prescribing of all controlled substances to take effect September 1, 2021. The bill provides for emergency situations when electronic prescribing is impossible. HB 1905 by Rep. Stephanie Klick passed out of the Insurance Committee on April 16. This bill would protect pharmacies from being terminated without cause from their network provider contracts.
TPA Speaker-Elect Lisa Killam-Worrall visits legislators' offices at the Capitol to lobby for pro-pharmacy legislation.
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