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Ohio House unanimously votes in favor of HB 479 to end PBM co-pay clawbacks & gag orders!

Rep. Thomas West & Rep. Scott LippsThe Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) is pleased to announce that the Ohio House of Representatives has voted unanimously in favor of HB 479, sponsored by Representative Scott Lipps (R-Franklin) and Representative Thomas West (D-Canton) that aims to end a secretive practice that is causing patients to pay more than they should at the pharmacy counter. Specifically, the bill would prohibit co-pay clawbacks and pharmacist "gag orders" that stand in the way of lower prices for patients at the pharmacy counter.

HB 479, dubbed the "Prescription Drug Co-Pay Integrity Act," will prohibit the practice of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) requiring pharmacists to charge patients an amount greater than the pharmacy's cash price for a particular prescription drug. Second, the legislation would prohibit "gag clauses" that some PBMs place in pharmacy contracts that penalize pharmacists for disclosing a complete picture of the financials of a patient's prescription drug transaction.

This issue has received significant attention in the media in recent years, and it all started with a 2016 investigative report from a news station in New Orleans. Similar legislation has already been passed in more than a dozen states. The practice has resulted in more than 16 lawsuits across the country.

As prescription drug prices continue to grow, 6 in 10 Americans say lowering the cost of prescription drugs should be a “top priority” for lawmakers. In Ohio, despite the failure of the unworkable "Drug Price Relief Act" (Issue 2), a message was sent that something must be done to get drug pricing under control. OPA has worked extensively with Reps. Lipps & West to address out-of-pocket expenses for patients and to shed light on a problem that OPA members have said must be stopped.

To mark the roll-out of HB 479, OPA stood alongside Reps. Lipps & West, and Holly Pendell, director of advocacy and activist engagement for the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, to announce the bill's introduction. To view that press conference in its entirety, see the Ohio Channel's video HERE. To view the discussion of the bill on the House floor, see the Ohio Channel's video HERE.

It's no secret that OPA has been very outspoken about the problems with prescription drug pricing (see hereherehere, and here). The Columbus Dispatch has spent four months pulling back the drug pricing curtain in a special Side Effects investigative series that is exposing millions of dollars in drug pricing waste. We've spent a great deal of time working to reform a broken system that rewards big supply chain middlemen and results in higher drug costs for employers, taxpayers, and patients. HB 479 is just one attempt at ensuring that patients aren't paying any more than they have to for their needed medications.

"The clawback is just the latest example of PBM tactics that deceive patients, inflate the cost of prescription drugs, and line the pockets of administrative middlemen," said OPA Director of Government & Public Affairs Antonio Ciaccia. "It's time to reclaim the idea that a co-pay is a shared payment; not an imposed overpayment. Passage of HB 479 is just one layer of the drug pricing onion. We look forward to getting this bill to Governor Kasich and moving on to the next layers."

Rep. Scott Lipps discusses the need to address high drug prices

The passage of HB 479 follows a recent announcement from the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI), which has now effectively prohibited PBMs and/or health insurers from engaging in each of the following practices:

  1. Prohibiting any person, directly or indirectly, from informing, by any means, an individual about less expensive ways to purchase prescription drugs that may also be available under any insurance policy or benefit plan.
  2. Requiring cost-sharing in an amount, or directing a pharmacy to collect cost-sharing in an amount, greater than the amount an individual would pay for the prescription drug if the drug were purchased without coverage under a health benefit plan.

For a complete ODI Bulletin that contains the exact language and rationale, CLICK HERE.

"Needlessly charging Ohioans more for their prescriptions by keeping them in the dark is not defensible," Ohio Department of Insurance Director Jillian Froment added.  "We are empowering consumers with more information and helping pharmacists provide their customers with more transparency and potentially cheaper options."

HB 479 will build upon ODI's edict, and furthermore, it will codify the language in Ohio law.

Passage of HB 479 also comes on the heels of a recent speech from President Donald Trump, where he announced sweeping drug pricing reforms - most of which were squarely focused on PBMs. President Trump specifically referenced the "gag rules" that PBMs place in pharmacy contracts. Addressing the practice, he said, "This is a total rip-off, and we are ending it."

CMS Administrator Seema Verma also issued a memo to all Medicare Part D plans, stating, "We are committed to empowering patients with the information they need to make informed decisions about their care. This includes ensuring that all patients have access to drug price information that can help them save money and get the most value from their insurance coverage. In Medicare Part D, our existing policy requires plan sponsors to ensure enrollees pay the lesser of the Part D negotiated price or copay, or be subject to CMS compliance actions. We want to make it clear that CMS finds any form of “gag clauses” unacceptable and contrary to our efforts to promote drug price transparency and lower drug prices."

OPA thanks Representatives Scott Lipps & Thomas West for taking the lead on lowering out-of-pocket expenses for patients. Additional thanks to Representatives Jim ButlerRyan SmithNino VitaleGary SchererDick SteinScott WiggamSteve HambleyMichelle Lepore-HaganGlenn HolmesMike Ashford, and Kyle Koehler for signing on as lead co-sponsors.

"We applaud the work of Reps. Lipps & West for removing the barrier between pharmacist and patient," said OPA Executive Director Ernie Boyd. "Their efforts will make a difference for consumers at the pharmacy counter."

Now that HB 479 has passed out of the House, the bill now moves to the Ohio Senate. Please contact your state senator and ask them to support HB 479!

Rep. Thomas West describes what a PBM clawback is

HB 479 has attracted supporters from across the industry, and our "Ohio Prescription Partnership" coalition continues to grow. Here is a list of the current supporters of the legislation:

Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northern Ohio (AMCNO)

Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP)

American College of Rheumatology (ACR)

American Pharmacy Cooperative Inc. (APCI)

Arthritis Foundation

Cancer Support Community of Central Ohio (CSCCO)

Cleveland Clinic

Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO)

Epilepsy Foundation Greater Dayton Region

Genoa Healthcare

Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF)

Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF)

Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC)

National Alliance on Mental Illness Ohio (NAMI Ohio)

National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)

National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS)

National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF)

Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP)

Ohio Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (OAASC)

Ohio Association of Rheumatology (OAR)

Ohio Bleeding Disorders Council (OBDC)

Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (Ohio NAPNAP)

Ohio Dermatological Association (ODA)

Ohio Foot & Ankle Medical Association (OHFAMA)

Ohio Hematology Oncology Society (OHOS)

Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA)

Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA)

Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA)

Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center

Patients for Affordable Drugs

U.S. Pain Foundation

Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio (UHCAN Ohio)

For more information and resources on HB 479, PBM clawbacks, and pharmacist gag orders, review the links below:

Drug middlemen charging Ohioans triple the going rate — or more, Columbus Dispatch, 6/27/18 *OPA member Senator Dave Burke & OPA's Antonio Ciaccia quoted

Ohio House approves patient-friendly legislation that increases price transparency for prescription drugs, Ohio House of Representatives Majority Caucus Blog, 6/27/18

West's bipartisan bill to lower cost of prescription drugs passes Ohio House, Ohio House of Representatives Minority Caucus Blog, 6/27/18

Editorial: State should stand up for consumers against abuse by PBMs, Columbus Dispatch, 6/10/18

Gag orders, clawbacks, PBMs and how they affect your medication costs, Health Matters Radio Show, 6/4/18 *OPA members Paul & Brad White interview OPA's Antonio Ciaccia

Looking for lower Medicare drug costs? Ask your pharmacist for the cash price, Kaiser Health News, 5/30/18 *OPA member Nick Newman quoted

House committee OKs crackdown on pharmacy-benefit managers - Columbus Dispatch, 5/23/18 *OPA government affairs director Antonio Ciaccia quoted

Trump plans to end 'total ripoff' gag rule on drug prices for Medicare plans - Washington Examiner, 5/11/18

Rule by intimidation: The contract keeping pharmacists quiet - Beyond Type 1, 4/18/18 *OPA government affairs director Antonio Ciaccia interviewed

Ohio cracks down on PBMs - Drug Topics, 4/12/18 *OPA government affairs director Antonio Ciaccia interviewed

Ohio legislators hear support for bill seeking transparency in prescription pricing - Columbus Dispatch, 4/10/18

Nationwide patient organization endorses Ohio bill to lower drug prices - Patients For Affordable Drugs, 4/9/18

Ohio bans ‘gag orders’ on cheaper cash prices for prescriptions - Columbus Dispatch, 4/4/18

Consumers could save on prescriptions after Ohio bans ‘gag orders’ - Dayton Daily News, 4/4/18

Ohio regulator orders insurers, benefit managers to give lowest drug price - Reuters, 4/4/18

Lawmakers consider bill to allow pharmacists to warn customers of overcharges - NBC4i Columbus, 3/23/18

Bill targeting pharmacy benefit managers gets first hearing in Ohio House - Columbus Dispatch, 3/20/18

OPA Executive Director Ernie Boyd on paying cash for your med's versus using insurance - 610 WTVN, 3/18/18

Regulators take aim at companies blamed for higher prescription drug prices - Akron Beacon Journal, 3/18/18 *OPA Executive Director Ernie Boyd quoted

USC study explores the 'copay clawback' phenomenon - University of Southern California, 3/13/18

Holly Pendell: Ohio House bill aligns drug prices with cost - Columbus Dispatch, 3/8/18

Why your pharmacist can’t tell you that $20 prescription could cost only $8 - The New York Times, 2/24/18

Trending now: State legislation that bans pharmacy benefit managers’ “gag clauses” - National Academy for State Health Policy, 1/30/18

Canton-area lawmaker targets pharmacy clawbacks - WOIO 19 Cleveland, 1/25/18

New bill calls for more transparency in drug prices - Dayton Daily News, 1/25/18 *OPA member Doug Anderson quoted

Ohio lawmakers going after pharmacy benefit managers - Columbus Dispatch, 1/24/18 *OPA government affairs director Antonio Ciaccia quoted

Effort to lower drug costs would allow pharmacists to tell about cheaper options - WSYX/ABC6 Columbus, 1/24/18 *OPA government affairs director Antonio Ciaccia interviewed

Ohio lawmakers consider new legislation to reduce drug prices - Statehouse News Bureau, 1/24/18

Press conference - Discussing prescription drug legislation - The Ohio Channels, 1/24/18 *OPA government affairs director Antonio Ciaccia lays out the association's case for HB 479

Reps. Lipps, West discuss newly introduced legislation regarding prescription drug affordability - Ohio House of Representatives Majority Caucus Blog, 1/24/18

OPAs Antonio Ciaccia gives examples of PBM clawbacksPrescription drugs may cost more with insurance than without it - The New York Times, 12/9/17

NBC News Investigation: Prescriptions may be cheaper without insurance - NBC News, 10/16/17

Time to lift the curtain on PBM wheeling and dealing - Managed Care Magazine, 9/29/17

Study finds Medicare 'DIR fee' legislation would save government billions - National Community Pharmacists Association, 9/28/17

Want to bring down drug prices? Go after the middleman - The American Prospect, 8/11/17

A startling lawsuit against CVS could blow up what you thought you knew about drug prices - Business Insider, 8/8/17

The 'clawback': Another hidden scam driving up your prescription prices - Los Angeles Times, 8/9/17

Pharmacy ‘clawbacks’ targeted in latest state law aimed at PBMs - Bloomberg News, 7/11/17

The hidden monopolies that raise drug prices - The American Prospect, 3/28/17

You’re overpaying for drugs and your pharmacist can’t tell you - Bloomberg News, 2/24/17

Sticker shock at the pharmacy? There's more than meets the eye - Antonio Ciaccia via Cleveland Plain Dealer, 12/11/16

Middlemen drive up prescription drug prices, critics say - Columbus Dispatch, 10/23/16 *OPA government affairs director Antonio Ciaccia quoted

Uncovering the group driving up the cost of medication - 10TV Columbus, 7/19/16 *OPA Past President Ray Carlson and anonymous OPA members interviewed

Filling a prescription? You might be better off paying cash - Kaiser Health News, 6/24/16

The great big prescription drug clawback - National Community Pharmacists Association, 5/20/16

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