Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed Senate Bill 821 on Wednesday. Authored by Senator Greg McCortney and Representative Marcus McEntire to allow pharmacists to discuss less expensive alternatives to customers, instead of being restricted to do so by pharmacy benefit management contracts.
Major pharmacy chains were against the bill because they claimed it will raise prices on consumers.
McEntire says that it would have reformed how pharmacy benefit manager work pricing deals with pharmacies.
Stitt’s veto won the support of the the State Chamber.
“SB 821 would have placed burdensome and expensive government mandates on employers who provide health benefits to their employees, and it would have made prescriptions more expensive for many,” said Chad Warmington, president and CEO of The State Chamber. “By vetoing this bill, Gov. Stitt made it clear increasing prescription drug costs for hardworking Oklahomans is non-negotiable, and we thank him for taking this courageous stance.”
The House and Senate did pass SB 821 by a veto proof margin, but it is unclear if the Legislature will try to override the veto.
