Legislative roundup: Fetterman to re-introduce SMART Prices Act

May 25--WILKES-BARRE -- U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pittsburgh, this week joined 26 of his colleagues to introduce the Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act.

The bill, led by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), would expand Medicare's ability to negotiate lower drug prices for consumers, reduce federal spending, and give the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stronger tools to negotiate lower drug costs in Medicare Part B and Part D.

Pennsylvania seniors fill more than 100 million prescriptions every year -- this bill means they'll finally get a fair shake at the pharmacy counter. In addition, taxpayers will see serious savings.

According to preliminary estimates from West Health and Verdant Research, if the SMART Prices Act were to be enacted in 2026, it would save 33% more by 2030 than current law. It would also allow Medicare to begin negotiations earlier and bring down the price of more expensive drugs.

"No one should have to choose between medicine and groceries. Multi-billion-dollar drug corporations are making obscene profits off of seniors and working families struggling just to get by," Fetterman said. "The SMART Prices Act is not complicated: it will boost Medicare's ability to negotiate fair deals with pharmaceutical companies and bring drug prices down. Big Pharma lobbyists might hate it, but regular people sure as hell won't."

This legislation builds on provision included in the Inflation Reduction Act that empowered Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices for the first time, unleashing the power of 53 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D Drug Coverage.

The SMART Prices Act would extend this progress by more than doubling the number of prescription drugs Medicare must negotiate to a minimum of 50 per year, allowing the costliest prescription drugs and biologics to have negotiated prices five years after approval by the Food and Drug Administration, and by increasing the discount that Medicare is allowed to negotiate.

DCED invests more than $22.6M to help schools

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger this week announced an investment of more than $22.6 million in 74 schools across Pennsylvania through the Solar for Schools Grant Program -- which is administered by DCED and funded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA).

Program grants will help schools to cover the purchase and installation of equipment, permit fees, energy storage, and utility interconnection.

"Energy is one of the top expenses for schools, which is why investments in solar energy can help to maintain long-term financial stability and improve the quality of education they offer students," Siger said. "Those savings can then be channeled into more resources for our teachers and students, and also create good-paying clean-energy jobs and job training opportunities."

School districts, intermediate units, area career and technical schools, charter schools, cyber charter schools, chartered schools for the education of the deaf or blind, community colleges, The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, and The Pennsylvania College of Technology were eligible to apply for the grants.

"Schools across Pennsylvania face tight budgets, and energy costs are one additional expense among a myriad of others," said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe.

Luzerne County: $400,000 to the Hanover Area School District to install solar panels to the district's high school. The district estimates the solar project will reduce its energy costs by 78%, reduce carbon emissions by approximately 100 metric tons annually, and serve as an educational tool for over 2,300 students to learn about renewable energy and its benefits.

Legislation introduced to license music therapists

Music therapists in Pennsylvania could be professionally licensed by the Commonwealth, bringing significant economic and therapeutic benefits to families and communities under new legislation introduced by state Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr., R-47, and Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-19.

The bipartisan legislation -- Senate Bill 579 -- would establish a board certification exam, continuing education requirements, and a code of ethics for trained music therapists to receive professional licensure under the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors.

"For years, I have been pushing for Pennsylvania to establish state licensure for music therapists to provide another avenue for those in need of therapy services," Vogel said. "Due to not having state licensure, most patients are denied insurance coverage for this therapy and music therapists then are limited in job opportunities here in the Commonwealth and seek employment elsewhere. Patients are losing out on a beneficial health care option and Pennsylvania is losing out on family-sustaining jobs and generating economic revenue. I am happy to introduce this legislation again and continue to fight for this important treatment option for those who can truly benefit from it."

"Music therapy can be a powerful tool to promote healing, well-being, and recovery. And licensing our highly trained music therapists will not only reduce public health costs and improve access to care, but it will also boost our economy, increase tax revenue, and help create jobs," said Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee.

"I'm proud to partner with Sen. Vogel on this legislation. I also want to recognize state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, who championed this issue in the House. I appreciate their efforts and the work of all our music therapists and advocates in communities across the Commonwealth."

Music Therapy is an evidence-based healthcare profession that can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease pain, and improve communication and social skills.

Pennsylvania is home to the largest number of higher education programs in the country for music therapy, yet professional licensure for music therapists is not currently offered in the Commonwealth.

By establishing a license for music therapy, Pennsylvania could regain approximately $7 million by retaining graduates and $135.4 million by enabling music therapists to bill appropriately, according to the Pennsylvania Music Therapy Task Force.

In addition, most insurance companies and Behavioral Health Managed Care Organizations (BH-MCOs) deny coverage to music therapists because they lack state licensure, even when they are nationally board-certified. Of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, at least 60 are blocked from reimbursed music therapy services with BH-MCOs. As a result, employers lose approximately $128,752 per music therapist, adding up to more than $93 million in lost revenue annually for Pennsylvania businesses, healthcare facilities, and therapy practices, according to the task force.

Senate Bill 579 represents a significant opportunity to retain professional talent, expand health care access, and capture substantial economic value currently forfeited to neighboring states with more developed regulatory frameworks.

Pennsylvania is currently home to more than 600 music therapists serving 49,000 residents each year. They assist clients with a variety of clinical needs, including Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorders, cerebrovascular accidents (strokes), dementia, depression, developmental and intellectual differences, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorders, terminal illnesses, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairments, and more.

Senate Bill 579 is before the Senate Consumer Affairs and Professional Licensure Committee. It is co-sponsored by 14 senators from both sides of the aisle.

There is companion legislation in the House, House Bill 563, sponsored by Pashinski.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

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