Quick update on our bills

Both of GPhA’s major bills — HB 233 and HB 323, which will curb some of the worst PBM abuses — passed out of their respective House committees unanimously earlier this week.

This is a big victory for Georgia’s pharmacists and their patients, but it’s only one hurdle. Next the bills go to the House floor, where they enjoy strong support. (You can read more about each bill in Greg Reybold’s week 5 legislative update.)

We owe a special thanks to the amazing Jennifer Shannon, owner of Lily’s Pharmacy in Johns Creek, who came to the capitol to testify before the committee on HB 233.

Now we need your help in the Senate. Please come to the capitol as part of one of the upcoming Pharmacist Advocacy Teams (March 6 or March 13 for two hours) to help lobby your state senator. You can find more info at GPhA.org/atthecapitol. Let’s keep up the momentum!

Time to change your showerheads

Legionnaires’ disease is on the rise in Georgia.

Personal recommendation: Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live, which explains (on page 96) why municipal water is more likely to have the Legionnaires Mycobacterium than deep-well water is.

Parkinson’s treatment shows promise

We don’t get overly excited every time a “major breakthrough” is announced, but we like to report them anyway. In this case, a pilot study from the University of Bristol found “Patients who had implants to replace damaged brain cells showed 100 percent improvement in reawakening portions of their brains harmed by Parkinson’s.” That sounds like pretty good news.

But are they free-range?

Green Gorilla is introducing a lip balm that contains CBD. Why? Why not? And if you think it’s not just about capitalizing on a buzzword, read this:

In addition, Green Gorilla pure CBD products are USDA NOP certified organic, non-GMO, vegan, kosher, paleo, gluten-free, sugar-free, THC-free, and do not contain artificial dyes, coloring, preservatives or additives.

This won’t be controversial

House Democrats introduced a bill for “Medicare for All.” But what would that mean, exactly? Could mean a lot of things, as FierceHealthcare explains, from “good-bye private health insurers,” to a Medicare buy-in option, to a Medicaid option on insurance exchanges.

(One thing it’s not is a British system, where healthcare workers are employed by the government. Ugh*. All the options envision the government as payor, not provider.)

* “Ugh” to the UK’s National Health System is not an official policy stance of the Georgia Pharmacy Association.

Who needs a field when a dark basement will do?

University of California, Berkeley, synthetic biologists have genetically enginneered a yeast to produce THC, CBD, and “novel cannabinoids not found in the [marijuana] plant itself.”

Next stop: Adding those genes to kudzu*.

* Fiction writers: If you use this idea, we expect full credit.

Deep-fried Oreos are right out

What foods should you avoid when trying to lose weight? Medical News Today has the answer. (Spoiler: If it’s good, it’s probably on the list.)