In The News

PBMS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE  — Members of the House Committee on Education and Labor have requested that the Government Accountability Office conduct a study on pharmacy benefit managers, citing concerns about their role in drug pricing. In a letter shared with Pulse, lawmakers asked the GAO to look into PBMs’ services to commercial health plans and how they are… Read more »

Dive Brief: Pressure is increasing on pharmacy benefit managers as the middlemen come under rising scrutiny from Washington for their role in rising U.S. drug prices. The Federal Trade Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to adopt a policy statement to more closely examine fees and rebates paid to PBMs in exchange for preferred coverage for their drugs from payers.… Read more »

Georgia Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12) went to the House Floor this week and blasted the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) over a proposed rule change for independent contractors. Efforts by the Biden administration would reclassify independent contractors as traditional employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act by redefining the term “employee” to also include independent contractors… Read more »

Biden signs Ocean Shipping Reform Act into law   By Georgia Farm Bureau On June 16 President Joe Biden signed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (S.3580) into law. The law authorizes appropriations for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) for fiscal years 2022 through 2025; establishes additional requirements and prohibited conduct for ocean carriers; requires the FMC to… Read more »

Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee Glenn “GT” Thompson and GOP members this week introduced H.R. 8069, the Reducing Farm Input Costs and Barriers to Domestic Production Act. The bill requires the Biden Administration to reverse its regulatory barriers to domestic agriculture production and provide immediate relief to families across the country. Congressman Thompson… Read more »

American elections have long been defined by campaigns that are focused on ‘pocketbook’ issues. James Carville’s famous line in 1992 — “It’s the economy, stupid” — might well apply for the 2022 midterms, too. And right now, that’s not good news for President Biden or Democrats. The latest review from the pollsters at Gallup this week had a very blunt message: “Usual… Read more »

Climate change and decades of industrialized food production are hurting U.S. agriculture, witnesses told the House Agriculture Committee yesterday at a hearing on the role of research in battling the crisis. Grain yields are already falling in the U.S., and American agriculture’s heavy reliance on chemicals to boost crop production is making farming less sustainable in some ways, a… Read more »

President Joe Biden’s job approval rating nationally has sunk to 41% in Gallup’s national daily tracking poll. That’s a huge drop since Biden’s first day in office, at 57%, but still higher than Donald Trump’s last day, when he sank to 34%. So is Stacey Abrams trying to distance herself from Biden and his deflating fortunes? Don’t bet on it. The Democratic candidate… Read more »

Family, friends, former players and distinguished guests gathered at Christenberry Fieldhouse on June 10 to celebrate Clint Bryant’s retirement after 34 years of service at Augusta University. Bryant, who is one of the longest-serving leaders in intercollegiate athletics, has overseen AU’s athletic department after coaching the men’s basketball team for nine seasons. He… Read more »

JUST POSTED — “Cotton gathers big donors to talk 2024 presidential race,” by Alex Isenstadt: “[Sen. TOM COTTON] emphasized that he wouldn’t defer to any other would-be candidates — including [DONALD] TRUMP — and said he planned to make a final decision on whether to run after this year’s midterm election.” REVISE YOUR CALENDARS — Wednesday’s Jan. 6 committee… Read more »