The Senate Health and Provider Services Committee passed two bills Wednesday, which aim to increase access to in-home health services and lower drug costs for consumers. Senate Bill 8 would require pharmacy benefit managers, who serve as the middlemen between pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies and health insurance companies, to pass on the discounts they receive from drug makers to the patients at the point of sale. And Senate Bill 438 would raise the reimbursement rate for home health aides and take other steps to addressing a critical labor shortage. Both bills are headed to the Senate floor for a second reading before the full chamber.
