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Bio.News caught up with BIO’s State Government Affairs team for a mid-year state legislature update—here’s what you need to know, from Medicare to biofuels. (550 words, 2 minutes, 45 seconds) |
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What’s happening in the states on health policy |
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States have wrapped up a busy legislative season—and BIO’s been busy. Patrick Plues, BIO’s VP of State Government Affairs, explains statehouse developments impacting biopharma.
Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDABs) are state bodies given the power to control drug prices, adding to the threat to innovation from federal price controls. In 2023, 12 states introduced PDAB bills; PDABs now exist in Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Washington.
Maximum Fair Price (MFP): States are looking at the Inflation Reduction Act’s MFPs as a mechanism for establishing drug price controls. For example, Minnesota’s new PDAB has the authority to use MFPs in setting prices.
Medicaid access to innovative therapies: BIO is working with states to develop innovative Medicare payment models for new treatments with high upfront costs but lower downstream costs. Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas passed or considered legislation enabling revolutionary therapies that cure disease.
340B: Stepping in to fix a federal program meant to assist underserved communities, states are forcing 340B mandates on manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers.
Consumer data privacy: Bills to ensure data privacy may accidentally impact the ability of biotech researchers to analyze research based on patient data, including clinical trials and genetic tests.
Vaccines: States are reacting to vaccine hesitancy with dangerous and misinformed legislation. More positive legislation addresses vaccine requirements to improve public health.
BIO’s view: “We always say that state legislatures are the laboratories for democracy,” says Plues. “So, we see a lot of ideas that bubble up from the states that go to Congress and vice versa.” Read more details in Bio.News. |
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What’s happening in the states on agriculture policy |
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With states finishing their legislative seasons, Patrick Plues, BIO VP of State Government Affairs, explains statehouse developments impacting agriculture and the environment—and BIO’s involvement.
Clean fuel standards: These encourage use of biofuels and are now in place in Washington, Oregon, and California. BIO is advocating for similar legislation that could come up this year in Massachusetts, Michigan, and Illinois—and next year in New York and New Mexico.
Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF): Encouraged by climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), six states—Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Washington—enacted legislation in 2023 incentivizing the use of SAF. BIO supported this legislation.
GMO labeling: Although 2016 federal legislation already addresses labeling of genetically engineered food, some states want to go further. Labeling legislation was defeated in Maine but is still being considered in New Jersey and Puerto Rico.
Promoting life sciences clusters: BIO supports legislation promoting the positive impact of biotech on a state’s economy. Connecticut had a bill on R&D tax credits, Maine legislation supported biomanufacturing, Maryland passed a bill for infrastructure grants, and Rhode Island’s budget includes a $45 million investment in life sciences.
BIO’s view: “States are generally very active in attracting the industry as job creators in their states,” says Plues. “We work on advancing legislation for a variety of things that will help the industry grow and sustain.”
Read more details in Bio.News. |
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