AR Looks to Bar PBMs from Owning Pharmacies Arkansas Rep. Jeremiah Moore (R) has introduced a bill ( HB 1150 ) that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies. Moore said the noncompetitive practice raises drug prices. ( ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT...
New MA Law Increases Oversight of Private Equity Investment in Healthcare Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) signed a bill ( HB 5159 ) expanding oversight of private equity investment in the healthcare sector. The law is the first in the nation to ban “sale...
Telemedicine Still ‘Critical Focus’ for State Lawmakers: This year states passed at least 176 bills that adjust existing laws to accommodate the higher demand for telehealth services since the Covid-19 pandemic. That total roughly equals the 171 bills...
Nursing Home Industry Pushing for Repeal of Nurse Staffing Mandate With President-elect Donald Trump returning to the White House next year, the nursing home industry has been ramping up its efforts to kill the Biden administration’s new nurse staffing...
Federal Regulators Move to Block UnitedHealth Acquisition of Amedisys The U.S. Department of Justice and Democratic attorneys general of Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and New York filed an antitrust lawsuit aimed at blocking UnitedHealth Group from acquiring...
Big Changes Ahead for Obamacare? During his campaign President-elect Donald J. Trump said he had the “concepts of a plan” to replace the Affordable Care Act, which he attempted to kill in his first term. But with Republicans likely to control both...
Insurance Coverage for Speech Therapy Developing Legislative Trend? Pennsylvania became the second state to enact legislation ( HB 2268 ) requiring health insurers to cover speech therapy for children who stutter. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Brandon Markosek...
MI Addresses Multiple Healthcare Issues Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed over half a dozen bills dealing with healthcare and family support. The measures include SB 790 and SB 791 , allowing home help caregivers to unionize, and SB 929 , increasing pay for healthcare...
CA Enacts Guardrails for Use of AI in Healthcare California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a pair of bills making the state one of the first to establish guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. One of the measures ( SB 1120 ) sets requirements...
AI in Healthcare Bills Awaiting Gov’s Action in CA California could soon establish new guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare with a pair of bills awaiting action by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). One of the measures ( SB 1120 ) would set...
CA Nears Restricting Private-Equity Healthcare Acquisitions The California Legislature passed a bill ( AB 3129 ) that, if signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), would require the state attorney general’s approval before a private equity group or hedge fund could...
CA Lawmakers Pass PBM Legislation California joined a nationwide movement to tighten restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers with the approval of SB 966 days before adjourning its legislative session on Aug. 31. If signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) the measure...
MA Expands Access to Maternal Health Care Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy (D) signed legislation ( HB 4999 ) expanding access to maternal health services in the state. Among other things, the measure provides for the licensing of midwives—reducing the number...
Bill Regulating PBMs Nearing Passage in CA California lawmakers are on track to pass a bill ( SB 966 ) in the coming weeks regulating pharmacy benefit managers. The measure would prohibit PBM practices as steering patients to PBM-affiliated pharmacies and “spread...
MT Follows Trend of States Increasing Oversight of Nonprofit Hospitals The Montana Department of Public Health has proposed rules regarding the collection of data on nonprofit hospitals’ charitable acts, including discounting prices and conducting free...