[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6322506,"mediaKeyId","2347369-b04df4d488bc7ace149e228e17950dc9","parentId",2347369,"title","Committee hears split testimony on HB 100 requiring point‑of‑sale drug rebate pass‑throughs","audioSeconds",410,"startMs",2143000,"endMs",2553000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347369-b04df4d488bc7ace149e228e17950dc9&start=2143&end=2553","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347369-b04df4d488bc7ace149e228e17950dc9/thumbnail_2143000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6322506/Georgia/Committee-hears-split-testimony-on-HB-100-requiring-pointofsale-drug-rebate-passthroughs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322506-dd609ef429683266bb20c194d45dda7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155721&Signature=WTOKFe-U1GYRgdwObib8~c34Hm~3X904D3QQxhqSftWbQ~mZ1XdwX1Uhblzq1gnWGeUCML~Qtscma059WrpmD6BfKBLU~YkQZZWXW9Q7Eh3RsOnFSXz9-c9-BmyIUguNnyLSB-91aECcstRBW8IEYDpv2cuLXmV7w0UKw9JMR4ZaXWjjgw3c0XzJmMJpM9Micyzmn2vf4-9k0fJEOtrelM3UUeATFpZsgr~7pAvv8Mc1-6GPAhqQOmWCjlE3iC4BFDFVKoPSpRawK613Sq6If4bUqzuiKxvNBbfnC0CipUBucgDoqVu4WZ2PKPa~PNL68tEIcer2jCDDHDI-Pqi35Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Georgia State Legislature","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Douglas presented House Bill 100 to the Insurance Subcommittee on Life and Health, saying the measure would require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurers to pass negotiated rebates and discounts to consumers at the point of sale — the sponsor and supporters asked that a large share of negotiated savings be delivered directly when patients pay for prescriptions.

Collier Williams of the National MS Society testified in support, saying high prescription costs lead patients to alter or stop disease‑modifying therapies (DMTs). \"This is a major advancement ... to lower these out of pocket expenses,\" Williams told the committee, urging lawmakers to require PBMs and insurers to pass at least 80 percent of negotiated rebates and discounts to consumers at the pharmacy counter.

Representatives of the commercial insurance industry and PBMs pushed back. Jesse Wetherington, president of the Georgia Association of Health Plans, said the proposal would reallocate negotiated rebates away from the insurance pool and impose costs on small businesses that buy coverage. \"What this does is it really subsidizes those people at the expense of everybody else in that pool,\" Wetherington said, describing point‑of‑sale pass‑throughs as a move that raises premiums for the broader insured population and noting many plans already offer point‑of‑sale rebate options.

A representative from PCMA, the trade association for PBMs, likewise opposed the proposal. Industry witnesses told the committee that rebates are often adjudicated in arrears and can be difficult to calculate at the pharmacy counter, and they said exempting some plans — including certain employer or state plans — is common in versions discussed.

Supporters said the change would lower out‑of‑pocket costs for patients who rely on expensive brand drugs; Collier Williams cited a National MS Society survey in which 40 percent of people taking DMTs altered or stopped medication because of cost, and said more than half of respondents worry about affording their treatment going forward. Opponents said brand drugs can cost seven to eight times more than generics, and argued that only a minority of plan members use brand medications in a given year, so shifting rebates to point of sale would raise premiums for others.

Committee members asked about exemptions and whether the state health plan or Medicaid would be affected; witnesses noted that proposed language and substitutes could remove or add such plans. Representative Douglas said he intended to narrow the bill in some sections, and discussion continued over implementation and whether a fiscal note was required. The committee did not take a vote; the item was presented as a hearing only.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02.19.25 Insurance Life & Health Subcommittee","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Douglas presented House Bill 100 to require PBMs and insurers to pass negotiated prescription‑drug rebates to consumers at the point of sale; supporters said it would lower out‑of‑pocket costs and opponents warned of higher premiums and implementation challenges.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Georgia , Georgia","taxId",77688,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6322511,"Hearing held on HB 373 to require private insurers to cover prostate screening for high‑risk men 40–49",871,879000,1750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347369-b04df4d488bc7ace149e228e17950dc9&start=879&end=1750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347369-b04df4d488bc7ace149e228e17950dc9/thumbnail_879000.jpg","/articles/6322511/Georgia/Hearing-held-on-HB-373-to-require-private-insurers-to-cover-prostate-screening-for-highrisk-men-4049","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322511-2130c79dc7490a4319213caac9e63ed0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155721&Signature=fP3VXFBUvzg0t8kG~wrB~rmd8N8Hwp4Sl2VMcySmF-~lVpJmsgJk03968UgHINViM3JAEG~YdeoCFkijyXwBG9TFkKbC-cJozE44ESqvnvE4b0bDKXUJ0PN2SUPav0P-S8-BaCpAFfSuDaeNplOzR~wfnfri2owiE0vDwzj8M-kvjrZotsTW3giLkfcfaSQNtbUqAC6xlggV7nX13bKlVPODeZ70xUNAKnrli2g1byiJJqxHjZwxjKC11b1bKLzK2ZbcQwNGZuK9LGLtROtIFt2UUZqkDIBE9A2rQrkcScE5B8HFktJzVXp~BOi59Uw-F1j8VEj9NFm9jAdhIIqNmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Glaze introduced House Bill 373 at a hearing of the Insurance Subcommittee on Life and Health, asking lawmakers to require private insurers to cover prostate screening for men ages 40–49 who are at elevated risk because of family history or military service. The sponsor said the bill would add that coverage to the annual exam and target men with first‑degree relatives or other direct family history of prostate cancer and veterans.

The bill’s sponsor, Representative Glaze, told the committee the American Cancer Society estimates about 10,000 new prostate cancer cases in Georgia in 2025 and more than 1,100 deaths statewide; she said Georgia has among the highest prostate‑cancer incidence and mortality rates nationally. \"This bill would encompass and target our veterans 40 to 49 and those with what we call ... family history,\" Representative Glaze said.

The measure aims to change current practice in Georgia, where speakers said private insurers and state plans typically begin covering PSA or DRE screening at age 50. Representative Glaze said the out‑of‑pocket cost for a screening in the 40–49 age range is small — she cited an average cost of about $33 (range about $18 to $84) — and argued earlier detection could prevent deaths because prostate cancer often lacks symptoms until advanced stages.

A constituent testifier, Derek Holloway, described his diagnosis and urged the committee to support coverage for high‑risk men. \"If caught early, 99 percent of the men will be alive in another 5 years,\" Holloway said, recounting that his PSA climbed rapidly and that he had no symptoms before diagnosis.

Committee members asked about existing federal and military programs and other high‑risk groups: members noted TRICARE and other federal plans, and the sponsor said TRICARE and certain insurers already identify many high‑risk patients. Committee members also asked whether firefighters and other occupational groups would be included; Representative Glaze said firefighters are among the higher‑risk groups the bill intends to reach.

This was a hearing only; the committee took no vote on HB 373 during the session.

The hearing combined personal testimony from a cancer survivor with sponsor remarks and committee questions. The sponsor provided a PowerPoint to committee members and opened the bill for questions; no final action occurred at the meeting.","Representative Glaze told the Insurance Subcommittee on Life and Health that House Bill 373 would require private insurers to cover PSA/DRE prostate screening for men ages 40–49 who are at increased risk because of family history or veteran status; the bill was presented at a hearing and no vote was taken.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6322496,"Substitute to HB 420 would require insurers to cover cancer‑related genetic testing when family history is present, sponsor says",0,2751000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347369-b04df4d488bc7ace149e228e17950dc9&start=2751&end=2751","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347369-b04df4d488bc7ace149e228e17950dc9/thumbnail_2751000.jpg","/articles/6322496/Georgia/Substitute-to-HB-420-would-require-insurers-to-cover-cancerrelated-genetic-testing-when-family-history-is-present-sponsor-says","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322496-683778cbd8ad11e4fd59e8127626f277/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155721&Signature=T9kbPx9COgq568y-6t0jw~fXrfdx0C8La5mZK2or8nugxqkmaEtjNfAkYheT1iPQtNLIfw8FGHx5ma4Nyixlns5dL10eHT2jzQ1kbkyH9Ep7faGNxW-cV0B8TMChQYK9bd3Oz6Db7jcTJ8rtyWgffWZgfFtb3X6hrDTZkLtAJ3Xz92EvL8GunwXrvsaGpXN359x3n~SwqYOav4PfulEr-7ig38vnMlUioKcYWHKr7w-U7ftzndMssWySjeDNEpwEg9ZKK6iLNy73ER~TODqNhkkrHVXhTi9vesZodUdEiRJ1zu0KA7r2rVWyr6cNxO68TLDabX6etEPIMzS9GZxeIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A substitute to House Bill 420 was presented to the Insurance Subcommittee on Life and Health proposing coverage of genetic testing for cancer when family history indicates inherited risk. The sponsor said the substitute would require carriers to pay for genetic testing for inherited mutations or variants associated with cancer and that such testing would be covered under health plans and subject to any applicable coinsurance.

The sponsor told the committee the measure focuses specifically on cancer testing and would not expand to unrelated genetic tests. \"It covers genetic testing for an inherited mutation of any variant of a gene ... but it's relating, specifically, to cancer,\" the sponsor said in response to a committee question. Committee members asked clarifying questions about scope and whether the bill was limited to cancer; the sponsor confirmed it was specific to cancer‑related genetic testing.

According to the sponsor, coverage would treat genetic testing as any other health service, with applicable copays or coinsurance. A representative from the insurance industry, when asked to weigh in, indicated no objection to the concept. The committee held the item as a hearing; no vote was recorded.","A sponsor presented a substitute to House Bill 420 that would require carriers to pay for genetic testing related to cancer when a patient has family history; the bill would treat testing like other covered services with coinsurance, and committee members had brief questions but no vote was taken.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6322501,"Sponsor seeks reporting on state rebate savings in HB 101; committee holds hearing",146,2564000,2710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347369-b04df4d488bc7ace149e228e17950dc9&start=2564&end=2710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347369-b04df4d488bc7ace149e228e17950dc9/thumbnail_2564000.jpg","/articles/6322501/Georgia/Sponsor-seeks-reporting-on-state-rebate-savings-in-HB-101-committee-holds-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322501-88b0112a4a55388513d6f151ef683737/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155721&Signature=ZK7OBHhBTkZKcvKwStFTI2ga-wvxxM8HrWnnstLwMe3VRpgdH7kmguQ0CH1HvYOpjl5WLprKBztGOsIB-jvTeVq8dxio6U9PfZiA3ns1Rq2bLNjo~xJhpWkYE7alOkJaKkE4BSandV~zjnrgBIwxsrm9nkjbTScCrvABoFnYXqwFAj33ZT4FuX56UtwcTwWpRhA9cWSJrndCdjlsDOx3p13U7dS~T4Km52eWxlDelrhhY-hX7MVQiDISSDHl6obmJI3AmF4awCTJatfMscBwkHAu5HMldO~pXixX5EemUudJpaPEkXnvu58jYPdaZIDmLc9M~biuxdIqczT5p9JTRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Douglas told the Insurance Subcommittee on Life and Health that House Bill 101 would require state agencies to report how they capture savings from negotiated rebates and discounts and to show the public how those savings reduced costs for state plan members. The sponsor called the measure a \"come show me\" bill that would ask agencies to document the discounts they negotiated and the savings realized for constituents.

Douglas said a substitute would remove the State Health Benefit Plan from parts of the bill but asked state agencies to report available savings and the methodology used. Committee members did not receive any outside testifiers for HB 101 at the hearing.

The item was a hearing only; the committee did not vote on HB 101 during the session.","Representative Douglas presented House Bill 101 to require state agencies to report how they capture and pass along prescription‑drug savings; no witnesses signed to speak on the measure at the hearing and the committee took no vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears split testimony on HB 100 requiring point‑of‑sale drug rebate pass‑throughs

Hearing held on HB 373 to require private insurers to cover prostate screening for high‑risk men 40–49

Substitute to HB 420 would require insurers to cover cancer‑related genetic testing when family history is present, sponsor says

Sponsor seeks reporting on state rebate savings in HB 101; committee holds hearing