Unanimous!

Yesterday, HB 233, the second of our PBM anti-steering bills, passed the full Georgia Senate by a vote of 53-0. That means both our bills have been passed by both houses — and we hope both will be headed to the governor’s desk soon for his signature.

This is big, big news for everyone in Georgia. It helps ensure patients get the best possible medical care, and protects their right to choose their healthcare providers.

We appreciate everyone who made calls and sent e-mails. Your voices were heard.

And to the Georgia legislators who took the time to understand the issues, see through the spin, and realize why these bills are critical for everyone in Georgia: Thank you.

Make sure to attend a spring Region Meeting in your area to learn more about the events of years legislature and about both bills — check GPhA.org/regions for the one near you — where you’ll hear the details from Greg Reybold or Bob Coleman.

Until then, keep your fingers crossed. Georgia’s patients are counting on it.

Buzz takes a short break

Next week Buzz will be on a semi-hiatus as your humble writer* moves house and home and helps establish an alpaca ranch†.

We’ll still be publishing, but you might notice fewer stories at the beginning of the week while boxes are unpacked. Fear not — we’ll be back on Thursday at full strength, breathing fresh air, and sharing the most interesting pharma and healthcare news.

* Who are we kidding?
† Seriously.

No Medicaid work requirements

As Georgia considers asking for some sort of Medicaid waiver from the feds, this is worth noting: A federal judge has struck down down Medicaid work requirements in Arkansas and Kentucky.

The argument is simple: The judge said Medicaid is about providing healthcare; it’s not intended as an anti-poverty program. Work requirements, by removing thousands of low-income people from the program, goes against that healthcare goal.

And as Georgia Health News reports, that’s not the only complication the state is facing.

What are you waiting for?

Christmas is in December — that’s too long to wait to register for the Georgia Pharmacy Convention on Amelia Island!

It’s the biggest event all year for Georgia pharmacists, techs, and students, and registration is open. But the hotel room block is limited, so you want to register and book your room ASAP!

Head over to GPhAconvention.com to see all there is to offer: Courses, sessions, the Expo Hall, amazing keynoters, and all the fun the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort has to offer for you and your family!

(And don’t forget to order your commemorative convention T-shirt while supplies last!)

It’s still bad, but at least you’ll be aware of how bad it is

It seems that smoking does not increase your chance of contracting Alzheimer’s.

The money quote: “Once adjusted for the competing risk of death without dementia, smoking was not associated with incident dementia.” (But the authors also point out, “Current smoking increased incidence of death without dementia.”)

Arsenic is “natural”

Consumers read labels, and they’re more likely to prefer a drug that’s labeled as “natural” even if that term has little scientific meaning.

[Researcher Brian Meier] wanted to do the study after constantly “hearing frequent comments from friends and family that were stated in this way: ‘it’s natural so it cannot hurt you.'”

Elsewhere: family business

The State of New York is suing the Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, for its role in the opioid crisis. That’s the family itself, not the company.

The lawsuit, filed by the state attorney general Letitia James, is one of the very few in a wave of opioid litigation across the country that name the Sacklers. It targets eight family members: Richard, Jonathan, Mortimer, Kathe, David, Beverly and Theresa Sackler, as well as Ilene Sackler Lefcourt.