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The West Virginia Independent Pharmacy Association and the National Community Pharmacists Association are applauding HB 4112, a patient choice bill signed into law last week by Gov. Jim Justice (R). HB 4112 gives patients greater authority to choose which in-network pharmacy fills their prescriptions and would address the arbitrary “specialty” designation that pharmacy benefit managers use to steer patients to PBM-owned pharmacies.
On behalf of the West Virginia Independent Pharmacy Association (WVIPA) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), we express our gratitude for your support and the signing of HB 4112 into law. Your commitment to locally owned pharmacies and patient access has solidified West Virginia’s reputation for having some of the strongest pharmacy and patient protections in the nation.
Thank you. My name is Matt Walker, representing the Western Independent Pharmacy Association and the West Virginia Primary Care Association today.
Chairman: Matt, please raise your right hand for me. Do you swear the testimony you give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Matt Walker: Yes, sir, I do.
Chairman: Okay, thank you. Senator, the junior senator from the 8th, would you like the floor?
Senator: Sure, sure. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think Ms. Ellinger did a good job explaining the bill. I’ll throw the ball to you, Matt. Why is this bill needed?
Matt Walker: Thank you, Senator. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think this bill is necessary to promote transparency around the complex issue of pharmacy and pharmaceuticals. I categorize the provisions into four buckets:
BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. – Delegate Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, today said a bill from the 2019 regular session is now leading the way to ensure West Virginians have access to low-cost prescription medications.
Hello, my name is Matt Walker. I represent the Independent Pharmacy Association and the West Virginia Primary Care Association.
Chairman: Thanks for coming, Matt. If you could raise your right hand, please. Do you swear that the testimony you give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Matt Walker: I do.
Chairman: Thanks for coming. You can give your statement, and then we’ll open it up for questions.
Matt Walker: Sure, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senators. I represent around 200 pharmacies of several different types, including FQHC pharmacies, which are almost all 340B covered entities, as well as about 60 independent pharmacies that are locally owned throughout West Virginia.
Over the years, my members have felt a great need for transparency and oversight for PBMs. This sentiment is shared across the country, as many states are implementing oversight, licensure, and regulations for PBMs due to their significant impact on healthcare. Pharmacy spending is a major item for health plans, whether it’s Medicare, Medicaid, PEIA, or commercial insurance.
