Georgia CommonsHB 139: Pharmacies; prohibit drug manufacturer and wholesalers from preventing a licensed pharmacy from acquiring drugs from entities that participate in a particular federal drug discount program
Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action January 29, 2025 · Introduced
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
House Bill 139
By: Representatives Jones of the 25th, Hawkins of the 27th, Hatchett of the 155th, Cannon of the 172nd, Jackson of the 128th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 6 of Chapter 4 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to pharmacies, so as to prohibit drug manufacturers and wholesalers from preventing a licensed pharmacy from acquiring and dispensing drugs purchased from entities that participate in a particular federal drug discount program; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 6 of Chapter 4 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to pharmacies, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"26-4-120.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Contract pharmacy arrangement' means a legal agreement between a hospital or other healthcare provider and a pharmacy where the pharmacy agrees to dispense medications to the hospital's or other healthcare provider's patients at a discounted price.
(2) 'Covered entity' means an entity participating in or authorized to participate in the federal 340B drug discount program, as described in 42 U.S.C. Section 256b, including its pharmacy, or any pharmacy contracted with the participating entity to dispense drugs purchased through such program.
(b) Neither a manufacturer nor a wholesale distributor shall deny, restrict, prohibit, or otherwise prevent, either directly or indirectly, the acquisition by or dispensing of drugs from a pharmacy licensed pursuant to this chapter that receives drugs purchased under a contract pharmacy arrangement with a covered entity.
(c) Neither a manufacturer nor a wholesale distributor shall deny, restrict, prohibit, or otherwise prevent, either directly or indirectly, a pharmacy licensed pursuant to this chapter from contracting or participating with a covered entity by denying access to drugs that are manufactured or distributed by such manufacturer or wholesale distributor.
(d) Neither a manufacturer or a wholesale distributor nor an agent or an affiliate of such manufacturer or wholesale distributor shall, either directly or indirectly, require a covered entity to submit any claims or utilization data as a condition for allowing the acquisition of drugs by or delivery of drugs to a covered entity unless the claims or utilization data sharing is required by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. (e)(1) A violation of this Code section shall constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice and shall be a violation of Part 2 of Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 10, the 'Fair Business Practices Act of 1975.'
(2) A violation of this Code section may be penalized as provided in this chapter or any other applicable provision of law in this state, including, but not limited to, the 'Fair Business Practices Act of 1975.'"
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.