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Appropriations panel funds enforcement unit for pharmacy benefit managers, sends House Bill 1584 to floor
Summary
The Senate Appropriations Committee amended and recommended a due-pass on House Bill 15‑84, creating a Pharmacy Benefit Manager Enforcement Fund funded by existing drug pricing monies, authorizing $1.2 million in annual spending and three full‑time positions for enforcement.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday approved amendments to House Bill 15‑84 that create a dedicated enforcement fund for pharmacy benefit manager oversight and authorized staff and spending to start enforcement work.
The amendment, moved by Senator Dwyer and seconded by Senator Wozniak, transfers the balance of the existing drug pricing fund (described in committee as about $1,700,000) into a newly created “pharmacy benefit manager enforcement fund,” caps annual spending authority from that fund at $1,200,000 and authorizes three full‑time equivalent positions — an attorney, a pharmacist and an investigator — to support enforcement. The amendment passed on a roll call and the committee then recommended a due pass as amended to the full Senate.
Why it matters: pharmacies and insurers told the committee enforcement authority was needed to address disputes over PBM contracts and drug pricing, while some…
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