CCAGW Urges Virginia House Welfare and Institutions Committee to Oppose HB 560
State Action
February 7, 2022
Virginia House Health Welfare and Institutions Committee
Virginia Capitol
1000 Bank Street
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Dear Delegate,
On behalf of the 46,585 members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) in Virginia, I urge you to vote against H.B. 560, which will increase healthcare costs and put patients at risk.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed challenges and deficiencies in the nation’s healthcare system. During the height of the pandemic, many patients refused or deferred care, prompting deregulation of a variety of telehealth services, which created access for patients to doctors, pharmacists, and medicines. Pharmacy home delivery system use increased during the pandemic and offered options for patients to receive life-saving medication delivered to their front door when many patients were unable to pick them up in person. Restrictions in H.B. 560 put these home delivery services at risk by implementing price controls on home delivery prescriptions that will result in a 15.1 percent increase in costs, which will be passed on to patients. Creating such a barrier to easy and convenient access to life-saving medications will increase other costs by causing more hospitalizations and avoidable treatments for patients.
Home delivery systems are a reliable, low-cost alternative for in-person pharmacy visits. The benefits of this system over the past two years have been clear. Pharmacy home delivery systems lower costs like any other online order service, and patients should not be punished for their healthcare choices. H.B. 560 also puts patient safety at risk by eliminating prescription quality standards.
H.B. 560 is a threat to safe, affordable, and accessible patient-centered care. If passed, this bill will increase healthcare costs for patients, employers, and taxpayers. For the above reasons, we strongly urge you to oppose H.B. 560 and any other similar legislation that would implement price controls and further distort the medical marketplace.
Sincerely,
Tom Schatz
President, CCAGW
