Gov. Evers to Include OCI Rx Task Force Proposal to Protect 340B in State Budget
Governor Tony Evers announced on Feb. 3 that his upcoming 2021-23 biennial state budget proposal will include several provisions designed to lower prescription drug costs. Among them will be a proposal by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance designed to protect the 340B prescription drug discount program for hospitals and other safety-net providers.
The provisions are a result of a year's work by Governor Evers' Task Force on Reducing Prescription Drug Prices. The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) actively participated in the task force, and WHA member Brian Stephens of Door County Medical Center served on and presented to the task force to make members aware of the growing costs and resources hospitals put towards prescription drugs, much of which are outside their direct control.
Among a number of the task force report recommendations the Governor announced he intends to pursue in his state budget is a policy that would prohibit discriminatory reimbursement practices for 340B providers. This occurs when pharmacy benefit managers and other third-party payers provide lower reimbursement rates to providers that receive 340B discounts.
While legislative text is not currently available for these proposals, WHA's government relations team will continue to closely monitor progress and work with the Evers administration as these policies are developed and introduced.
Contact WHA Vice President of Federal and State Relations Jon Hoelter for more information.
This story originally appeared in the February 04, 2021 edition of WHA Newsletter