LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Bill SB-58 is a proposed change to the regulations surrounding nonprofit, tax-exempt, and governmentally-funded hospitals. The focus is on removing the prohibition that currently prevents these institutions from holding a licensed pharmacy permit for the retail sale of drugs.
Under current law, certain hospitals—particularly those that are nonprofit, tax-exempt, or funded by the government—are not allowed to sell drugs directly to the public through a licensed retail pharmacy. Supporters of the 340B Plan and newly proposed bill SB – 58 say this could help with continuing care, while those opposed say it can impact patients’ freedom of choice.
Proposed bill SB – 58 could also have implications for the accessibility of pharmaceuticals in areas with fewer retail pharmacy options, especially in rural or underserved regions, where hospitals might step in to fill that gap with patients not receiving their medications on time…