State Representative Julia Reed

Remember when I was like: this 340b bill will be the last bill we do tonight? Jkjkjkjk we’re actually also doing HB 2487 which is not subject to to cutoff. #waleg

Thanks, Gov. Let’s get this done.

Anyway, bill passes! Everyone get some 340b healthcare! #waleg

Republican speaker shockingly says that the Trump HR 1 Medicaid cuts have not damaged the healthcare system in WA. Ok, my man. #waleg

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Black folks can speak for themselves on this floor and in the world, we don't need Republicans to speak for us. We're good. #waleg

There are other Black organizations who have spoken in favor of this bill, including the Tubman Center on Health and Freedom. Who had this to say #waleg

Basically, it's amazing when Republicans use the very real health needs of Black communities -- who their policy proposals on this floor and nationally have actively harmed -- as props with the aide of lobbyists. #waleg

Republican speaker now raising to read a letter that lobbyists were able to get the WA NAACP President to write. I really object to lobbies that haven't really cared about communities of color at all manipulate these organizations into working against their own community interests. #waleg

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Republican says this is a "reverse Robin Hood" bill. Then just a lot of talking points about how terrible Seattle is, how terrible UW is, and a bunch of stuff that's not related to this bill including Medicaid cuts which the Republican president is primarily driving... #waleg

Republican speaker says it's a "pie crust promise" that this bill will help rural hospitals, which is a metaphor I've just never heard before. Says that this isn't about profits, it's about the difference between wholesale and retail prices -- which is...what profit is? #waleg

"There are reasonable conversations we can have about addressing costs in our healthcare system. I don't think that should prevent us from passing this bill" We agree! Well done Rep Bernbaum, a great rural health advocate #waleg

Second question from Rep Bernbaum: Should you vote for this bill even though healthcare program costs have expanded. He notes that before 2021, all qualified health centers could use any contract pharmacy, until pharmaceutical companies started restricting that #waleg

Rep Bernbaum: "There's nothing I've heard about more from members of the community than the stability of the healthcare system" and starts describing how the hospitals and healthcare networks in his community are terrified of the impacts of HR 1 Medicaid cuts. #waleg

Ok we're on final passage! Rep Bernbaum who has been a staunch advocate for this bill and a great teacher about the program, rises to speak. "How do you weigh the needs of hospitals that serve the neediest in our community against the profits of Big Pharma?" #waleg

Last amendment. This one strikes the underlying bill and just creates a working group to study the 340b program. A *classic* maneuver for lobbyists when all the other ideas don't work, and fair play but we're a no. #waleg

After this we have one more amendment and then final passage! #waleg

Republican speaker says all the states that have passed some sort of statute have ended up in federal court. IDK if that's true, but I'll risk it. #waleg

The next Republican amendment says that we should wait for the Trump administration/Congress to change the program instead of us changing the program. I think it's a bit hard to argue this is "restricting" the program when it's preventing industry restrictions of the program? #waleg

The amendment is about what can be disclosed under legislative privilege which... has nothing to do with 340b, so we're moving on. #waleg

Next Republican amendment is being scoped, and probably ruled out of order. This Republican's thing is bring up a "government transparency amendment" on every bill that is out of scope, so it will probably be sustained. We wait. #waleg

Republican speaker says the concern from one side of the argument is that drugs are being bought at a very low rate and sold at a very high rate/the list rate. That "one side" is pharmaceutical companies who want to sell the drugs at a higher rate, to be sold again at the list rate. #waleg

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This Republican speaker is very into "black box" as a metaphor for this one. #waleg

Well, the senate is actually at ease, so nothing to see there. #waleg

Just a reminder, if you want to follow along with where we are on the amendments and which amendment we're on, you can follow the House and Senate floor activity here: app.leg.wa.gov/far/House/Ca...

#waleg

Next amendment says hospitals can only use 340b revenue for things that they aren't getting tax benefits for (by being nonprofit). This I think is just not part of the 340b program? We're a no. #waleg

The next Republican amendment says that if you have health insurance you can't offer a drug under the 340b program if a person has health insurance where they can get a discount from the pharmaceutical companies. Rep Macri, who has worked on this a lot, stands up and says "no" #waleg

Next Republican amendment says hospitals can't receive Medicaid rebates for drugs that they also purchase through the 340b program. We're a no. Duplicative discounts are bad, but this amendment runs afoul of federal law, they've got to be the ones that correct #waleg

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The money will go into an "abyss!" says Republican speaker. #waleg

Republicans keep saying (shouting?) cash grab, but the folks who walk away with the cash if this bill fails to pass is the pharmaceutical companies because they won't have to sell drugs at a discount to as many places. #waleg

Republicans keep saying that the 340b program was designed to go to individual patients. Again, it's very clear if you read the federal authorizing statute that's not at all what it was created for. #waleg