OAFP Members,

Below you will find the latest Session Update from OAFP Legislative Consultant – Dawn Watson:

Much of the floor action stalled this week after some disagreements cropped up between the Senate and the House but hopefully, things will start to move again this week since Thursday is the deadline to hear bills on the opposite floors.

Here are the highlights from last week and what to expect this week:

• Managed care – SB1337 made its way through committee but the title is off the bill so it will need to see more changes before it can progress. The physician associations continue to express opposition to the bill as written and are asking for more physician protections. The coalition remains opposed at this time as well. We expect the bill to be heard on the House floor this coming week.
• SB709 – which allows a person to serve as the commissioner of health as long as they have a master’s degree and have related experience, is scheduled for acceptance or rejection of House amendments. The measure was amended in House committee at the request of the medical community to require the appointment of a chief medical officer. If accepted, the measure will go to the governor.
• Medical power of attorney, SB1596, is scheduled for a floor hearing Monday and if it passes, it is ready to go to the governor.

Measures that are now dead after the House finished committee work:

• SB1215 – would have allowed pharmacists to prescribe certain non-prescription drugs.
• SB747 – was a carry over bill from last session that would have prohibited health insurance companies from using immunization status as a basis for coverage.

This should be an extremely busy week as groups and legislators push to get measures off the House and Senate floors to keep them alive. Please let us know if you have questions.