The 2020 West Virginia Legislature completed its 60-day session March 7 at the Capitol. Over 3,000 bills were introduced during the session, while 328 ultimately became law. The West Virginia Pharmacists Association was active representing pharmacists during the session.
Complete texts of bills passing have been mailed WVPA members. Below are brief descriptions of bills that passed.
House bill 4102 – Effective March 6, this bill relates to opioid antagonists, including dispensing an opioid antagonist.
House Bill 4543 – Effective March 7, this new law relates to required health insurance coverage for diabetes; providing cost sharing in prescription insulin drugs; requiring insurance coverage for prescription insulin drugs; cost sharing for a prescription insulin drug; requiring insurance coverage for diabetes education and medical visits; and providing that education related to diabetes may be provided by health care providers.
House Bill 4417 – Effective June 4, this bill calls for professional boards to approve different continuing education programs on drug diversion.
House Bill 4198 – Effective June 7, this bill provides coverage for contraceptive drugs for a 12-month refill obtained at one time. A health benefit plan that provides coverage shall allow the insured to receive the contraceptive drugs on-site at the provider’s office, if available, and dispensing practices must follow all clinical guidelines for appropriate prescribing and dispensing.
House Bill 4543 – Estimating over 240,000 West Virginians are diagnosed and living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and another 65,000 are undiagnosed, and given the cost of insulin has increased astronomically, this bill limits the cost of a 30-day supply of a covered prescription insulin to $100.
Senate Bill 689 – This new law is referred to as the Requiring Accountable Pharmaceutical Transparency, Oversight and Reporting Act. It calls for a drug manufacturer to submit a report to the State Auditor stating certain information for each brand-name, specialty and generic drug.
Senate Bill 544 – This new law calls for the Board of Pharmacy, the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to propose joint rules to permit a licensed pharmacist and pharmacy intern to administer vaccines in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest definitive treatment guidelines promulgated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Such joint rules shall permit a licensed pharmacist or pharmacy intern to administer immunizations.
House Bill 4058 – This new law calls for the WV Insurance Commissioner to promulgate rules for legislative approval to include licensing of pharmacy benefit managers.
House Bill 4103 – This law requires the Office of Drug Control Policy to continue within the Department of Health and Human Resources under the supervision of the secretary and with the assistance of the State Health Officer. The Office shall develop a strategic plan to reduce the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse and smoking.
