Enacting the defense of drug delivery act to prohibit manufacturer interference relating to 340B drug distribution.
Impact
The bill grants the Kansas Attorney General significant authority to investigate and penalize violations relating to the distribution of 340B drugs. This includes the ability to impose civil penalties of up to $50,000 for each violation, and the establishment of a Defense of Drug Delivery Fund to manage the fees collected from these penalties. The implications of this legislation may lead to increased oversight regarding how manufacturers interact with covered entities, thereby enhancing access to essential medications for those entities.
Summary
Senate Bill 284 establishes the Defense of Drug Delivery Act in Kansas, aimed at prohibiting manufacturer interference in the distribution of 340B drugs. The bill is particularly focused on protecting covered entities that participate in the federal 340B drug pricing program, which allows these entities to purchase medications at reduced prices. It outlines that manufacturers, wholesalers, and other related entities cannot deny or restrict the acquisition of these drugs by covered entities unless such actions are aligned with federal or state law.
Contention
Proponents of SB284 argue that the bill is essential for safeguarding access to affordable medications for vulnerable populations served by covered entities. They emphasize that without such protections, manufacturers could unfairly restrict access to necessary drugs, thereby undermining the intent of the 340B program. However, opponents express concerns about potential overreach and the implications of increased regulatory oversight on pharmaceutical companies, which could complicate the drug distribution process. As such, the bill highlights a broader debate about balancing corporate interests with public health objectives.
Enacting the "Defense of affordable prescriptions act" to prohibit certain discriminatory actions related to reimbursement of entities participating in the federal 340B drug pricing program.
Requiring drug manufacturers to provide pricing under the federal 340B drug pricing program to pharmacies that enter into contractual agreements with entities covered under the 340B program and prohibiting pharmacy benefits managers from denying patients the freedom to use the pharmacy and healthcare provider of such patient's choice.
Prohibiting abortion procedures except when necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman and providing a private cause of action for civil enforcement of such prohibition.
Prohibiting abortion procedures except when necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman and providing a private cause of action for civil enforcement of such prohibition.
Increasing the criminal penalties for battery of a healthcare provider, adding the placing of controlled substances into pills into the definition of manufacture, increasing the criminal penalties for manufacturing fentanyl and for manufacturing or distributing any controlled substances that are likely to be attractive to minors because of their appearance or packaging, creating a special sentencing rule to make sentences for distributing fentanyl presumptive imprisonment, excluding materials used to detect the presence of fentanyl, ketamine or gamma hydroxybutyric acid from the definition of drug paraphernalia, adding domestic battery and violation of a protection order to the crimes that a person can have the intent to commit when committing burglary or aggravated burglary, increasing criminal penalties for the crime of interference with law enforcement when the violation involves fleeing from a law enforcement officer and authorizing the attorney general to prosecute certain crimes that are part of an alleged course of criminal conduct that occurred in two or more counties.
Providing price limits and other requirements for health benefits covering prescription insulin drugs and establishing the insulin affordability program for the uninsured.
Substitute for HB 2273 by Committee on Appropriations - Making and concerning certain supplemental appropriations for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 and appropriations for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 for various state agencies.
Substitute for SB 514 by Committee on Ways and Means - Making and concerning supplemental appropriations for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 and appropriations for fiscal years 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 for various state agencies.