Committee introduces RS 32318 on 340B pharmacies after divided debate

The committee considered RS 32318, introduced by Representative Jordan Redmond, which Redmond said seeks to "bring accountability to drug manufacturers" participating in the 340B program and to restore access for contract pharmacies that lost participation in recent years.

"To participate in Idaho's Medicaid program, drug companies must adhere to the rules of 340B," Representative Redmond said, describing how manufacturers stopped delivering some 340B drugs to contract pharmacies in 2020 and how that change "severely hindered access." He told the committee the RS is intended to help the state address those gaps until or unless the federal government takes additional action.

Representative Kaler moved a substitute motion to send the RS back to the sponsor, arguing the RS "is not necessarily a great RS" and that expansion of the 340B program was "a bit excessive" at this time. Representative McCann opposed the substitute and said stakeholders had worked extensively and that the measure was a replacement to restore pharmacies' prior access.

Committee members debated whether federal funds were involved; Representative Redmond stated that 340B is "a federally regulated program" but that "there's no tax dollars involved in this," describing the program as manufacturer discounts rather than direct federal spending.

After debate and a roll‑call sequence on motions recorded in the transcript, the committee introduced RS 32318 for further processing. The committee did not discuss specific statutory text or fiscal notes in detail during the Health and Welfare hearing.