Culver discusses bills after deadline week

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, said it was a deadline week in the Legislature as they had until March 27 to pass all measures out of the chamber of origin.

"It was a busy week, hearing between 40 and 60 bills each day. Lots to read and consider. Lots of questions and some passionate debates," Culver said.

In total, the House passed 438 bills and 1 joint resolution by the deadline. One of the bills passed was House Bill 2048. This would expand the federal 340B drug plan to help ensure health care facilities remain open.

"This is a voluntary program that pharmaceutical manufacturers agree to participate in in exchange for having their drugs included on the formulary for Medicare and Medicaid," Culver said.

The program was created in 1992 to help stretch federal resources as far as possible without having to spend any state or federal tax dollars.

This bill says the state will follow these guidelines and will not allow additional restrictions to be placed on the program by pharmaceutical companies. This program allows covered health care providers to purchase out-patient prescription drugs at a significant discount, which go back to the provider to help cover the cost of their operation.

"In many instances, this makes the difference of a rural hospital or clinic remaining open or closing or having to shut down certain services like dental care, OB-GYN services or others," Culver said.

Additionally, because the program has grown so much in recent years, multinational drug companies are trying to shrink it by forcing unfair terms on local health care providers. In some areas, this has led to pharmacies owned by large corporations opening to compete with locally owned pharmacies.

Culver said the author of this bill worked with these local pharmacists and health care providers to craft this bill as a way to keep local places open and keep costs lower without the need for tax dollars to be spent. 

"Also this week, I passed House Bill 1366 to streamline the process for licensed dentists and hygienists to be able to move to and practice in Oklahoma. It would allow us to compact with other states to accept their licenses, increasing dental care for Oklahomans," Culver said.

Now that they're done with third-reading of House bills, they have until April 10 to get Senate bills through their initial policy and Appropriations & Budget subcommittees. House bills will be moving through committees on the Senate side at the same time.

One of the highlights this week for Culver was hosting his alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, for OU Day. OU administrators and students gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday to meet with legislators to highlight how the university benefits the state.

"The Pride of Oklahoma performed, and the school mascot, Boomer, was on hand. It was great to drive up to the Capitol and see superfan Cecil Samara's OU-themed Model T parked out front. What a fun day," Culver said.

Anyone needing assistance from Culver are asked to call his Capitol office at 405-557-7408 or email him at bob.culver@okhouse.gov.