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HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES POLICY COMMITTEE

Chair: Representative  Joe Armstrong (TN)
1st Vice Chair: Senator Usie Richards (USVI)
2nd Vice Chair: Vacant
Policy Staff: Deana McRae

 

Committee Members

State

Sen. Rodger Smitherman

AL

Sen. Toni Harp

CT

Rep. Sharon Beasley-Teague

GA

Rep. Billy Mitchell

GA

Rep. Howard A. Mosby

GA

Rep. Nikki T. Randall

GA

Sen. Donne E. Trotter

IL

Rep. Karen Yarbrough

IL

Rep. Charlie Brown

IN

Rep. William A. Crawford

IN

Rep. Gloria Fox

MA

Del. Nathaniel T. Oaks

MD

Del. Shirley Nathan Pulliam

MD

Sen. Rita Heard Days

MO

Rep. Beverly Earle

NC

Rep. Larry Womble

NC

Sen. Connie Johnson

OK

Rep. Anastasia Pittman

OK

Rep. Jewell Williams

PA

Rep. Ulysses Jones, Jr.

TN

Policy News

The new and dangerous practice of cost-driven drug switching

Calvin Smyre, President, NBCSL
NNPA Guest Commentary
One of the critical issues discussed at the recent annual conference of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) was the relatively new and dangerous practice of cost-driven drug switching.
According to recent news reports, health insurers in an increasing number of states are paying physicians in cash and offering other incentives for them to switch the prescriptions of their patients to cheaper drugs without informing their patients.


 


MISSION STATEMENT

This committee addresses issues pertaining to health care, health education, research, health employment, and the promotion of good health care policy with a view toward the specific indications for the African American community.


RESOURCES AND HELPFUL LINKS

Minority Health Offices
Many states have offices of minority health. They have various titles; some are established as official minority health entities (such as an office, commission, council, center, branch, project or other unit) through either executive or legislative branch action. Other states have designated minority health contacts, but no official office or commission. NBCSL’s sister organization, the National Conference of State Legislators, provides a list of such offices and contacts for 43 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Virginia Transparency Resolution
House Joint Resolution No. 79
Requesting the Governor and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to implement a policy barring physicians or other health care practitioners from prescribing an alternative brand of medication because of financial incentives.
Agreed to by the Virginia House of Delegates, January 17, 2008
Agreed to by the Virginia Senate, March 4, 2008

 

 

To View Photos from NBCSL’s 2008 15th Annual Mental Health Conference click here.

To View Video from NBCSL’s 2008 15th Annual Mental Health Conference click here.