Georgia Drug Laws
NACDS, NCPA support PBM-regulating bill - Chain Pharmacy - Licensing and regulating prescription benefits management firms targeted by new Georgia law - Government Activity - Legal Beat - Brief Article ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- In a move hailed by both the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association, Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes has signed into law a bill aimed at licensing and regulating prescription benefits management firms.
The law, signed by Barnes May 22, provides a legal framework for state regulators to curb the power of PBMs to dictate terms to pharmacies and consumers.
"We hope that other states will follow Georgia's example and enact laws governing the actions of these unregulated entities to appropriately protect consumers and eliminate harassment of small business pharmacies and pharmacists," said NCPA executive vice p resident and chief executive Bruce Roberts. "We also congratulate the Georgia Pharmacy Association and the independent pharmacists of Georgia, who worked tirelessly for enactment of this legislation."
In a separate statement, NACDS called the new law a "significant step in the right direction." However, the statement continued, "While the legislation ... is intended to provide protection to the public from me abuses or PBMs, its language is likely not strong or specific enough to make a true impact."
NCPA called the regulation of PBMs a cornerstone of its efforts to reassert pharmacy's role in the health care marketplace, and said it had drafted model legislation on PBM regulation that had been introduced in eight states.
Roberts added, "We applaud the legislators of Georgia and Gov. Barnes for recognizing the need to regulate PBMs and taking action. "We also congratulate the Georgia Pharmacy Association and the independent pharmacists of Georgia, who worked tirelessly for enactment of this legislation."
NACDS is working with NCPA to create this model language, which it said will provide more substance for future legislation.
"The pharmacists of Georgia have worked long and hard on this bill," said Georgia Pharmacy Association president Andy Rogers, R.Ph. "We are grateful to the governor for supporting this bill, which will ensure that patients receiving pharmacy benefits through PBMs receive high quality health care services."
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