Friday Policy Updates 1/26/2018


UNDER THE DOME

The CBSA team will be busy this legislative session working on bills that stand to have a negative impact on our industry, with an anticipated 7 healthcare transparency bills aimed at lowering health care costs. Additionally, CBSA will work on legislation that improves the business, workforce and industry growth strategies in the State.

Of the bills introduced to date this session:

CBSA Recommends Supporting

HB18-1135: Extend Advanced Industry Export Acceleration Program

The bill would extend the advanced industries export acceleration program that is currently managed by the office of economic development.

CBSA Recommends Opposing

HB18 – 1009: Diabetes Drug Pricing Transparency Act 2018

The bill requires drug manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers to submit annual reports to the state board regarding drugs used to treat diabetes that are subject to price increases of certain percentages. Additionally, it requires that nonprofit organizations advocating for patients with diabetes or funding diabetes medical research that receive contributions from certain diabetes drug manufacturers annually report those contributions.

SB18 – 080: Wholesale Canadian Drug Importation Program

The bill would require the CO Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to design a program to import prescription pharmaceuticals from Canada for sale to Colorado consumers. The program design must ensure both drug safety and cost savings for Colorado consumers. If the Secretary approves the program, the department then must implement the program.

Get Involved

CBSA works every day to create an innovation-friendly business environment, to grow our state’s economy and enhance the ability of our industry in creating next generation treatments and cures for patients. It is essential during this legislative session that we all work together to tell our story.

To that end, if you’d like to get engaged or talk about your concerns, perspective and position on these bills, please contact CBSA vice president, Jennifer Jones

MEDICAL DEVICE

If you missed it, check out CBSA’s news release on the suspension of the medical device excise tax and reauthorization of CHIP. This week the President signed a continuing resolution (CR) package, which includes a two-year suspension of the device tax retroactive to December 31 and a six-year re-authorization of Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Colorado BioScience Association applauds Congress and the Colorado Delegation on the passage of the suspension and CHIP.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) APPOINTMENT

This week the Senate confirmed Alex M. Azar, II as the new secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).Azar, a former top executive of Eli Lilly, will run HHS which plays a critical role in the life sciences innovation through its extensive programs and agencies. Some of the agencies under HHS include the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the National Institutes of Health (NIH); and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).For more information on Azar and a statement from BIO click here and here.


 

Categories: CBSA News