Jason White@JasonWhiteMS
For the third consecutive year, the House has tried to provide relief for independent pharmacists with PBM reform. However, the Senate has repeatedly taken this legislation too far, placing the cost burden on the shoulders of Mississippi’s patients. The House’s original bill, and the only PBM reform bill that was before the legislature this Session, would have given independent pharmacists 90% of what they have been advocating for the past three years. Unfortunately, the hang-up continues to point to a mandated prescription fee that would have increased annual healthcare expenses by millions for plan sponsors and higher insurance premiums for hardworking Mississippians.
The Governor has been working diligently with all interested parties to find an agreement. Lobbyists for the independent pharmacists have been offered numerous compromises but have so far been unwilling to negotiate. Based on these conversations, the Governor has indicated he would be unlikely to sign House Bill 1665 into law in its current form. With the deadline to Concur or Invite Conference today, HB 1665, as amended by the Senate, is dead. To continue the legislature’s efforts on this issue, the House is requesting Governor @tatereeves call a Special Session within this Regular Session to address PBM reform.
The House has consistently made efforts to ease the concerns of our local pharmacists, and we are committed to doing so without harming businesses and Mississippians. The House will remain focused on doing the right thing for all Mississippians. We anticipate further negotiations among all parties to reach a solution that is agreeable within the next few days. It is the Mississippi House of Representatives’ goal to consider and pass a bill that takes into account our state’s patients and businesses, in addition to independent pharmacists.
