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House passes medication-access bill to protect 340B purchasing for safety-net providers
Summary
Sixth substitute Senate Bill 69 passed the House after floor debate emphasizing support for ‘safety-net’ providers. Sponsors said the bill preserves access to discounted drug pricing under the federal 340B program for tribal, critical-access and safety-net health providers; the vote was recorded as unanimous among those present.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House on March 5 passed sixth substitute Senate Bill 69, a measure sponsors described as protecting medication-purchasing arrangements for safety-net providers under the federal 340B program.
Representative Karianne Lisonbee, the House sponsor, said the bill is identical to a prior House measure (House Bill 519) and argued the legislation permits entities such as Native American tribes, federally qualified health centers and disproportionate-share hospitals to continue purchasing medications at discounted rates under the federal 340B statute. “This is the bill that is focused on protecting entities in Utah that provide health care to our most vulnerable populations,” Lisonbee said on the floor.
Several sponsors and members backed the bill on the House floor. Representative Monson, who identified herself as a nurse working in a critical-access hospital, said the program allows remote and tribal hospitals to provide chemo, dialysis and other services that would otherwise be unaffordable. “This is a crucial piece in making sure that we can keep healthcare affordable for populations that are underserved,” Monson said.
Other members thanked sponsors and asked colleagues to support the bill. The House voted to pass the measure; chamber leaders recorded the action as a unanimous “yes” among present members and said the bill will be sent to the Senate for the president’s signature.
Floor supporters emphasized the policy’s effect on rural and tribal providers; opponents were not recorded in the floor discussion excerpt provided.
