HB784--PAYMENTSFORPRESCRIPTIONDRUGS
SPONSOR: Peters
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPass"bytheStandingCommitteeon
HealthandMentalHealthbyavoteof16to0.
Thisbillprohibitshealthcarriersandpharmacybenefitsmanagers
fromdiscriminating againstentitiesthatdispense340Bdrugs,
includinglessreimbursement, imposingdifferentterms,andother
discriminatory practices.
TheDirectoroftheDepartmentofCommerceandInsurancewill
createrulestoenforcetheseprovisions. TheDepartmentwill
imposeacivilpenaltyonanyhealthcarrier,pharmacybenefit
manager,oragentoraffiliateofsuchhealthcarrierorpharmacy
benefitmanagerthatviolatestherequirementsofthisbill.The
penaltycannotexceed$5,000dollarsperviolationperday.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthe340Bdiscountwasalways
intendedtogotoalonglistofcoveredentities,andthatwhena
persongoestoapharmacy,thatdiscountistypicallydeeperthan
howexpensivethepharmacycanacquirethedrug.Insurerswere
figuringoutwhichtransactionswereandwerenot340Bdrug
transactionsandthusbegantoslidethereimbursementscale.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Peters;
MissouriRuralHealthAssociation;SSMHealth;ArnieDienoff;
MissouriPrimaryCareAssociation;andMissouriPrimaryCare
Association.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythattherearenot340B
patients,onlydrugs,andthattheprogramwasstartedwiththe
intentofhelpinghospitalsthatservedadisproportionate shareof
thepoorpopulation. Overtheyears,theprogramhasexpandedby
asmuchas700%asmorecoveredentitiesweredesignated. The
policiesdescribedinthisbillshouldapplytohospitals.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwereSaintLuke'sHealth
System;HamptonWilliams,MissouriInsuranceCoalition;Missouri
HospitalAssociation;andAmerica'sHealthInsurancePlans.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.