WEEKLY UPDATE: 02/13/25
A coalition of legislators, healthcare providers, pharmacists, pharmaceutical industry experts, patients, and consumer advocates are preparing to formalize and present proposed legislation to tackle the rising costs of medications and improve access to prescription drugs and pharmacy care in Connecticut. The bipartisan, bicameral Prescription Drug Task Force — of which the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) is a member — was launched in December.
Since December, subcommittees of the task force have met to draft policy recommendations focused on key areas, including:
- Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)
- Drug shortages and importation
- Patient protection, pharmacy practice, rare diseases, and innovation
- Drug pricing and 340B programs
This week, subcommittees held their final meetings before the full task force reconvenes on Tuesday, February 18, to formalize its slate of proposals to present to the General Assembly for consideration during the 2025 Legislative Session.
As stakeholders explore opportunities to rein in healthcare expenses, CHA continues to underscore the necessity of preserving the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. The program’s substantial benefits enable hospitals and other healthcare providers, such as community health centers, to provide critical services — including free and reduced-cost care — to vulnerable populations. In Connecticut, 340B drug discounts have a ripple effect on affordability for all patients throughout the healthcare system.
