Tuesday, April 23, 2013

SC pharmacist-lawmaker frequently authors bills that affect his industry By Watchdog Staff / April 23, 2013 /


By Rick Brundrett  |  The Nerve

COLUMBIA – Country music star Kenny Chesney’s planned concert on May 4 in Columbia apparently was important enough for state Rep. Kit Spires to sponsor a formal resolution last week on the House floor welcoming Chesney back to the Capital City.
It wasn’t the Lexington County Republican’s first attempt at introducing frivolous legislation.
When it comes to serious legislation, though, Spires, a licensed pharmacist and pharmacy owner, has spent a great deal of his time on bills affecting his industry. A review by The Nerve found that of 22 general bills sponsored by Spires since joining the General Assembly, seven, or nearly a third, were pharmacy-related.
Spires has two pharmacy-related bills this session: H. 3161, which would establish new regulations for “compounding” pharmacies, or pharmacies that mix or modify medications to fit the particular needs of patients; and H. 3151, dubbed the “Pharmacy Patient Protection Act,” which, among other things, would ban pharmacy benefits managers from discriminating in certain areas when contracting with pharmacies.
Read more at The Nerve.

No comments: