The 2025 South Dakota Legislative session wrapped up this past Thursday, and overall, it was a good session for healthcare. We’ve seen better sessions, but we’ve also seen worse. I’d like to first provide an update on SB 154, which was signed by the Governor this past week.
SB 154 will prohibit pharmaceutical manufacturers from interfering in contracts between 340B entities and pharmacies and to provide a penalty, therefore.
This measure will make it so that a pharmaceutical manufacturer cannot directly or indirectly deny, restrict, or prohibit the acquisition of a drug at 340B prices to 340B entities for the use in contract pharmacies. The measure passed out of the House of Representatives 65-5 and the Senate 30-3. It will go into effect on July 1, 2025.
Thursday lawmakers finalized the general bill, which allocates funding for the state’s operations. Included in the final budget was the proposed 1.25% increase for Medicaid providers, state employees and schools. Additionally, our Advocacy Team worked very closely with several appropriators to put three healthcare cuts back into the budget: Graduate Medical Education, Subsidized Assisted Living, and the Renal Program.
Lawmakers will return to Pierre on Monday March 31, 2025, for Veto Day. This day is reserved for consideration of gubernatorial vetoes.
For more information about the 2025 Legislative session or any of the bills SDAHO advocated on behalf, visit the SDAHO Advocacy webpage or the Bill Tracker.