Georgia in Bloomberg

Georgia pharmacy got coverage by Bloomberg yesterday in “Drug Middlemen Face State Probes Over Complex Pricing System,” a piece on how PBMs are getting more state scrutiny. That comes as PBMs are testifying on Capitol Hill about drug pricing, and it makes sense for Georgia to get some attention.

Georgia is one of only a few states that have gotten to see behind the veil of spread pricing, thanks to legislators like pharmacy champ Representative David Knight, who Bloomberg quoted about the big issue:

“There is a total lack of transparency in the whole system,” says David Knight, a Georgia state representative. “It begs the question as to whom and where is the money going.”

We’re getting more transparent, though. Last year language was added to the state budget (thanks in part to GPhA advocacy) that including a reporting requirement — it helps legislators get a handle on how much money PBMs are making from their contacts with Georgia Medicaid (via the state’s four managed care organizations).

Of course, we also received a commitment from those four MCOs to move away from spread pricing in their next PBM contracts, which is good news for Georgia taxpayers. The work continues, though — GPhA has done well and done good the past few years in the legislature, but there is more work ahead.

Legislative recap

Speaking of PBMs and the law, don’t miss Greg Reybold’s final legislative update of the year — the big week 12 recap! Our priority bills have passed the Assembly (designed to rein in those PBM abuses), and now we await the governor’s signature. And there are a bunch of other healthcare bills you might want to be aware of.

Of course, the best way to get updated on the new laws is to attend your neighborhood Region President’s Legislative Briefing (and have a great dinner at the same time). Visit GPhA.org/regions to find the one nearest you!

Needle exchange

Governor Kemp has signed a bill allowing needle-exchange programs in Georgia. Of course it’s not quite that simple; the details will be worked out. Of note, the law isn’t a change for pharmacists — it’s geared toward ‘syringe service programs.’

Drugmakers on the Hill: Could this get any weirder?

Now House Republicans are telling drugmakers not to cooperate with the House investigation of drug prices because they believe the investigation will — according to the letter they sent to Novo Nordisk — “harm the competitiveness of your company.”

See, House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings had commented that, by hurting their stock prices, the House investigation into drug pricing was putting pressure on drug companies.

Know a recovering pharmacist?

Students and faculty at the University of Findlay College of Pharmacy in Ohio have embarked on an effort to gather data from recovering pharmacists throughout the country.

If you or someone you know is a recovering pharmacist, will you consider participating in their research project? Please CLICK HERE for a simple and straightforward survey. It will only take a minute to complete, your responses will be anonymous, and data is strictly confidential.

And if you’re dealing with addiction, remember that you can contact PharmAssist, offered through to the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation, at (404) 558-1983.

Vision quest

What, you thought contacts were only for better vision? Behold, the antihistamine-delivery system in a contact lens.

Telemedicine means more antibiotics

Telemedicine might be a boon for rural areas, but a new study finds that kids who visit a tele-physician are more likely to come away with an antibiotic prescription than those who see a doctor in person.

The study from researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found kids during telemedicine visits […] received antibiotics for ailments such as ear infections or viral colds 52% of the time. By comparison, 42% of urgent care visits resulted in an antibiotic prescription, and in 31% of visit to primary care providers.