Apr. 27, 2018
HARRISBURG - Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) issued the following statement regarding Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of
Senate Bill 936:
“Gov. Wolf caved to powerful special interests today with his veto of a bill which would combat the opioid crisis, protect injured workers and rein in prescribing abuses within the Workers’ Compensation system.
“During the debate in both the House and Senate, the governor was nowhere to be found, nor did he weigh in or offer any meaningful solutions to the prescribing abuses occurring in Workers’ Compensation. Instead, today he served as a backstop for his wealthy trial attorney friends who apparently profited from the abuses and demand they continue.”
Turzai noted the governor’s Human Services secretary testified during her Senate confirmation hearing that drug formularies are a valuable and necessary tool in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and private insurance. Separately, a deputy secretary for the Department of Labor and Industry testified at a House hearing on Feb. 15, 2017, that the administration supports the “basic objectives” of the bill. The final bill was amended with language to meet the issues raised by the administration.
Senate Bill 936 would have helped to address the growing opioid crisis by enacting a nationally recognized, evidence-based drug formulary for the workers’ compensation system. Drug formularies ensure consistent, high-quality care and have a proven track record of curbing opioid abuse among injured workers.
Representative Mike Turzai
Speaker of the House
28th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Neal Lesher
nlesher@pahousegop.com
717.260.6495
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