Doug Collins officially bows out of 2022 election cycle
News, State & National April 26, 2021
GAINESVILLE, Ga – Former Ninth District Congressman Doug Collins (R) announced his intentions to not run in 2022 for either the governor or U.S. Senate.
Collins joined a law firm and started his own radio program following his loss in the 2020 primary for retiring Senator Johnny Isakson’s (R) seat. Raphael Warnock (D) went on to win the seat in the January run-off, but it will be up again in 2022 once the term officially expires.
In an online statement, Collins said, “this is goodbye for now, but probably not forever. I do plan on staying involved in shaping our conservative message to help Republicans win back the House and the Senate and help more strong conservative candidates get elected here in Georgia. I believe that we, as conservatives, must be able to clearly communicate our values and I will help keep that fight going.”
I’m announcing today that I will not be a candidate for any office in the next election cycle. Read more ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/IruVtnjZl7
— Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) April 26, 2021
The former Representative served the Ninth District from 2013 to 2021 and became a strong supporter of President Donald Trump (R).
Now that Collin’s out of the race, it opens doors for Georgia Republicans who were possibly waiting in the wings for his decision.
Two Republicans have announced intentions to run against Senator Raphael Warnock: military veterans and businessmen Kelvin King and Latham Saddler. President Donald Trump has encouraged UGA hero Hershel Walker to enter the race.
Many speculate Congressman Buddy Carter (R), and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr will enter the Senate race.
As for Governor, Brian Kemp’s up for reelection and many expect Stacey Abrams (D) to run again.
After Kemp denied Trump the opportunity to overturn Georgia’s election results, the former President actively pushed Collins to primary the governor. Trump’s vowed to campaign in Georgia and remove the elected officials who didn’t side with him.
So far, former Democrat Vernon Jones (R) has thrown his hat into the gubernatorial primary ring.
Kemp appeared to win some public support back by signing the election integrity act last month, but it’s unclear how many rural GOP voters will fall in line at the ballot box. According to Republican activist Debbie Dooley, 15 local GOPs “passed resolutions to essentially censure” the governor on April 10 and 17.
Doug Collins still evaluating his 2022 options
BKP Politics, News February 17, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga – Former Congressman Doug Collins didn’t rule out a potential governor or U.S. Senate run in 2022. He confirmed he’s weighing his options and would make a decision in the future.
“I’m concerned about conservatism right now,” Collins expressed. “If that means I need to be on the ballot, I’ll be on the ballot.”
There’s a divide in the Republican party between Trump supporters and those trying to pull away from the embattled former President, especially after January 6.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R – Kentucky) appeared to try to appease both sides by voting to acquit Trump and then condemn his actions in a follow-up speech.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Collins stated that McConnell’s always been about “McConnell and the Senate,” not the America First agenda set forth by Trump. On Tuesday, February 16, Trump responded to McConnell’s speech. In it, he called the minority leader a “dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack” and forewarned Republican candidates that they “will not win again” following McConnell.
“I’m very disheartened, and I think it was disingenuous of McConnell to make [the statement] after the fact. In my mind, it’s hard to say, well, it was unconstitutional, so I just voted to acquit, but then give a scathing speech and op-ed where basically, he said, ‘I hope he gets charged in court. You don’t do that.’” Collins remarked about McConnell’s actions.
The former Congressman commented how he’s talked to people all over the country who are tired of “the work as usual” and want honesty.
“We’ve got to get all Republicans on the same page,” Collins stated. “There has to be a fix here. The President laid out a great vision. We saw a lot of stuff, and now they can’t be well, we don’t like some of what he did, so we’re going to turn and try to do it differently. That’s going to be a hard row.”
President Trump asked Doug Collins if he wanted to run for Governor during one of his rallies for David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Trump’s made it clear he intends to find someone to primary Kemp after the Governor refused to overturn the election.
Earlier this week, former Senator David Perdue (R – Ga) filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission for a potential 2022 Senate run against Senator Raphael Warnock (D – Ga).
Voter Confidence
Approximately 100,000 voters in the Ninth and Fourteenth Districts stayed home during the January 5 runoff. Many of those voters lost faith in the system.
Doug Collins with President Trump
“You let somebody else talk you out of doing what this Constitution gives you the right to do,” Collins expressed to those who stayed home. He added if those people voted, David Perdue at least would have kept his seat.
On January 5, the top vote earner was Senator Raphael Warnock (R-Ga), the second Republican Public Service Commissioner Bubble McDonald, and Senator Jon Ossoff (R-Ga) came third. Republicans turned out, but the Republican stronghold districts stayed home.
“You can’t tell me that Republicans, if they had just shown up that we couldn’t at least get David over the line,” Collins emphasized. “If you did not vote on [January 5] because you let somebody else talk you out of it, I can’t help you.”
He understood that people feel disgruntled after the General Election, but they need to focus and get their heads back in the game.
However, Collins believes that Georgia Republicans need Trump to win in the state. The party needs to find candidates who can win and effectively get the message out.
“We’ll have an advantage because Joe Biden is frankly so bad, and the House and Senate have shown their true colors. We’re going to have plenty to run against, but if we have people who won’t vote, it’s going to be a problem,” the former Congressman stated.
Collins ended the interview by telling listeners to look out for information soon about his future apart from running for office.
https://youtu.be/UgnSFR8n5J0Is Trump endorsing Doug Collins for Governor in 2022?
Feature News, Featured Stories, News December 10, 2020
Ellijay, GA: As President Trump’s dissatisfaction with Governor Brian Kemp continues to grow, he appears to be pushing Representative Doug Collins as a potential gubernatorial candidate in 2022.
How does Governor @BrianKempGA allow certification of votes without verifying signatures and despite the recently released tape of ballots being stuffed? His poll numbers have dropped like a rock. He is finished as governor! @RepDougCollins
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 10, 2020
Earlier today, Trump called Kemp out for his stance on the November election, asking how Kemp “allow[s] certification of votes without verifying signatures and despite the recently released tape of ballots being stuffed?” He then mentioned Kemps falling poll numbers.
According to a Morning Consult poll, since the General Election, Kemp’s approval rating fell from 86% to 77% among Georgia Republicans and 52 percent to 46 percent among overall voters. His disapproval ratings almost doubled, rising from 10 percent to 19 percent.
The latest tweet showcased the souring relationship between Trump and Kemp because the governor rejects the widespread voter fraud theory and won’t overturn the election. In 2018, Trump endorsed Kemp tipping the election in his favor.
At the end of the tweet, the President tagged Ninth District Representative Doug Collins (R), who is leaving office in January. Collins has always been a staunch supporter of Trump and recently ran for Senate. He came third in the November Primary, and Senator Kelly Loeffler and Raphael Warnock advanced to the January 5 runoff. However, Trump seems to be planting the idea of a governor run in Collins and the public’s mind.
In truth, Trump isn’t the first to jump on the idea of Collins for Governor. The Towns County GOP created “Collins for Governor 2022” shirts weeks ago. They echoed the sentiment among several Georgia Republicans that Kemp isn’t listening to his constituents and it’s time to find someone else. On Sunday, Kemp refused to call the General Assembly into special session to dedicate electors, calling it unconstitutional. The governor came out in support of election reforms going forward, which the General Assembly is discussing.
As for Collins, his spokesperson released the following statement:
“As Congressman Collins said the other day, the only political decision he’s focused on right now is making sure the people of Georgia send Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue back to the Senate in January.”
Collins served Northeast Georgia as the Ninth District Representative in the U.S. House since 2013. He’s a practicing military chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and attorney. Married to Lisa, a public-school teacher, they have three children, a daughter Jordan and two sons Copelan and Cameron.
Vernon Jones speaks on Trump Rally and crowdsurfing
Business October 19, 2020
Fresh off his weekend and an event where he “crowd-surfed” to a young man in a wheelchair because he wanted a picture, Georgia State Representative, Vernon Jones (D) says, “Let me be clear about one thing. I’m committed to this President. I believe in this President. I took a leap of faith and I believed in that crowd and that crowd caught me.”
This was not Jones’ first event in support of President Donald Trump either. He is campaigning for the President in the current elections saying that he is a life-long Democrat, but he would not vote for Joe Biden.
Comparing the two, Jones said that Biden has destroyed black men and women through mass incarceration. He has a record of doing nothing whereas Trump has produced results like the First Step Act restoring families.
Focusing on business and the economy, Jones listed several things as accomplishments in Trump’s Presidency like correcting trade agreements to a fair agreement for America, grew the economy evidenced by businesses expanding and job growth, increased pay for those in military service, and supported historical black college funding.
Jones said, “He has done more in the past 47 months than Joe Biden has done in the past 47 years.”
He added that people are being shamed for supporting Trump by the media and others as they are being portrayed as racists and bigots. But these people are just people. People who don’t care what color you are, people who just love their country.
Many Democrats are turning in support of the President and for himself, according to Jones, because they see the craziness in their own party, the anger in their own party, and the violence in their own party.
Jones referenced the incident over the weekend of a Trump supporter who was attacked and lost two teeth in the beating he took. He said this is the game that these liberals are playing. They are trying to incite fear through violence, fear through the pandemic, and fear through the media.
In full support of Trump, he said in an interview that the President is the best hope in support of our first and second amendment rights. He later added that voting for Biden isn’t even a vote for Biden as president. “He wouldn’t be the president, it would be Kamala Harris,” he said.
He added that she would be even scarier.
Georgia State Representative, Vernon Jones (D)
Going down the ballot from Trump, Jones also showed his support for Doug Collins and the work he has already done for Georgia as a Representative for the 9th Congressional District. While he didn’t specifically comment on Loeffler, he did say that Warnock was the wrong choice saying, “… it’s a vote for our civil liberties to be lost. It’s a vote for illegal immigration. It’s a vote for taking away the tax cut. He is dangerous.”
However, he didn’t stay long with this race and returned again to the Presidential Election and its importance as he said he was going to continue supporting and campaigning for Trump through his birthday even, October 31. He said that despite the polls, he wants Georgia to be all for the president in his re-election. Especially since the opposition has the major media supporting and propping up Biden’s campaign.
Jones pointed to the media and incidents with Biden meeting with Russian officials. He asks why none of them are asking Biden about it and why he or anyone in his campaign wouldn’t denounce the allegations or answer the questions.
With more events coming and debates on the way, Jones said he is looking to continue campaigning hard as he stands behind his words and endorsements.
It was a common theme during his statements. Constantly focused on the election, on Trump, and on the future of America. Many other stories are focused on his crowd surfing and the meaning or consequences of that day.
Jones stated in the video, “Show me the next crowd. I’ll do the same thing.”
Andrew Clyde declares victory in Georgia’s Ninth District
Featured, Featured News, Featured Stories, News August 12, 2020
NORTH GEORGIA – Earlier tonight, Andrew Clyde said, “I’m declaring victory tonight” to a room full of supporters in Commerce, Ga. after he clinched the GOP nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives Ninth District seat.
The night ended fairly early for the gun shop owner and Navy Veteran with the race being called before 10 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11. Clyde won 55.96 percent of the vote with 85 percent reporting. Gurtler received 44.04 percent of the vote. He carried at least 15 of the 20 counties in the Ninth District. Gilmer County was still out at the time this article was published.
President Donald Trump has already called Clyde to congratulate him on winning a hard-fought race.
Clyde at his victory party in Commerce. Ga.
Now that the runoff is over, Clyde and company will turn their eyes to November. The Republican candidate will face Democrat Devin Pandy, who also won his runoff tonight.
Whoever wins on November 3rd will take Representative Doug Collins (R) seat in the House of Representatives. Collins is currently in a race for Kelly Loeffler’s (R) senate seat.
Clyde will be appearing on FYNTV.com with Brian Pritchard on Thursday at 8.am.
See how all the statewide races in FYN’s coverage area turned out, here.
Interested in viewing local races? Visit the specific county to see who won their runoffs.
Clyde & Gurtler Debate LIVE July 17th 8pm on FYNTv.com
Featured, Featured News, News July 17, 2020
Watch Georgia’s 9th Congressional District Republican Debate LIVE FYNTv.com!
Devin Nunes Endorses Doug Collins for Georgia Senate
Election 2020, Press Release February 28, 2020
“I’m honored to endorse my good friend, Georgia Congressman Doug Collins, for the U.S. Senate,” said Nunes. “A strong conservative, Doug was a bold leader in the battle against the Russia collusion hoax and the sham impeachment against President Trump. Doug is a fighter, and we need more of those in the U.S. Senate. Please join me in supporting Doug Collins for U.S. Senate in Georgia.”
House Intelligence Committee Hero calls Doug “bold leader in the battle against the Russia collusion hoax and the sham impeachment against President Trump.”
“I shared a very small foxhole with Devin Nunes for a very long time and I know his character,” Collins said. “That’s why his endorsement means so much to me personally. He’s a great American patriot who stood firm against the worst the D.C. Swamp could throw at him. I’m honored to have his support. ”
Rep. Gurtler on decision to seek U.S. Congressional seat
Election, News February 14, 2020
ELLIJAY, Ga. – State House Representative Matt Gurtler spoke with FYN CEO Brian Pritchard in a live FYNTV interview, Feb.13, on the state budget cuts, related HB 4, and his announcement to run for the 9th Congressional District seat vacated by U.S. Senate-seeking Representative Doug Collins.
Gurtler, who is running on a platform of limited government, free markets, and individual liberty, said that the decision to run for U.S. Congress did not come lightly, and reached through deliberation and prayer. “We looked at the State Senate seat, we looked at the Congressional seat and had an opportunity to go up to Washington D.C. to meet with the conservative leaders in the House and also the Senate, and theses individuals and individuals reaching out to me across the District really encouraged me to run,” Gurtler said. “They’ve been watching me, and that I’ve been standing up to the powers that be, and the insiders in Atlanta and the special interests and the bloated budgets, and so it was sort of flattering that they noticed me there. And so we came back, and me and my family prayed, and we made the decision for Congress. We feel that we have a lot of support around the District. We’re going to work our tail off. We’re going to put tens of thousands of miles on the car again and wear the soles out on our feet and just bring the message of limited government to a wider audience, and a national audience if we are elected, so that we can really educate people.”
Gurtler said that members of the House and Senate voiced a need for “revolutionaries” to educate people on a national level, specifically against socialism. The State House Representative, who was in Washington D.C. during the telephone interview, divulged that he met with the Young Americans for Liberty, Freedom Caucus, and Club for Growth – an organization that is spending millions to fight Congressman Doug Collins in the U.S. Senate race.
Gurtler added that he received an endorsement from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.
The 8th District representative later shared his support for the Second Amendment in a social media post. “Our founders understood the right of self-defense is a natural and God-given right,” Gurtler wrote. “Red Flag laws and gun confiscation legislation like we see in Virginia, are dangerous to the principles of a free society and go against our constitutional rights. I will stand up for our 2nd Amendment rights in Washington DC just as I have done from day one at the State Capitol these past 4 years.”
Continue to follow FYN for local, state, and national campaign coverage as the May 19 primary election approaches.
Gurtler indecisive on which seat to seek
Election, News February 3, 2020
HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Matt Gurtler, the 8th District State House Representative, issued a statement to FYN on Feb. 2, remaining seemingly indecisive on his next political move.
“I am considering a run and weighing my options for the 9th Congressional or the 50th State Senate seat,” Gurtler told FYN. “It is very rare for both seats to open up like this at the same time and is something we did not expect. My family and I are praying about this very important decision. Thank you to everyone for their support and encouragement these past several days. Whatever we decide to do and whatever seat I run for, I will continue to fight the establishment and defend our Constitution.”
With qualifying drawing near, Gurtler has a mere month to decide whether to attempt the retention of his 8th District seat or seek candidacy elsewhere. Qualification takes place during the first week of March, with the primary election set for Tuesday, May 19.
The 9th Congressional seat opened as a result of United States Representative Doug Collins’ aim toward the Georgia Senate. The 50th State Senate office opened following Senator John Wilkinson’s decision to seek the seat vacated by Collins.
Click to read: Who is eyeing Collins’ Congressional seat
Gurtler, the 8th District incumbent, has been challenged in the State House race by Stan Gunter. Gurtler was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2016, serving Towns, Rabun, Union, and portions of White counties. As of Wednesday, Gunter stated that he expects Gurtler to remain in the race, “anticipating (Gurtler) to qualify for (District 8) and be in the race in March.”
Gurtler declined an FYNTV.com interview prior to reaching a decision.
The 9th Congressional District consists of Banks, Dawson, Elbert, Fannin, Franklin, Gilmer, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, White and portions of Clarke, Forsyth, and Pickens counties. The 50th Senatorial District includes Dawson, Habersham, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.
Continue to follow FYN for political coverage as 2020 election developments occur.
Paul Broun will run for 9th District U.S. Congress
News January 31, 2020
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Former 10th District Congressman Dr. Paul Brown announced on a radio talk show Friday that he will campaign for the 9th District Congressional seat being vacated by Doug Collins who will run for U.S. Senate.
“I am officially announcing my candidacy for the U.S. Congress in the 9th District,” he said. “I look forward to taking very conservative Georgia 9th District values back to Washington as did previously.”
Broun, 73, is no stranger to Congress. He was first elected to serve the 10th Congressional District in a special election in 2007. After being re-elected in 2008, he served two more terms until 2014. In 2014, he ran for U.S. Senate to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss but was defeated in the Republican primary. Two years later, he was defeated by Doug Collins.
Broun said he is very concerned about the out-of-control spending in Washington. “Congress is spending money it does not have. We’re headed to an economic collapse if it does not stop.”
He also expressed concern about the attack on religious freedom and unborn children. “The very first bill I introduced when I was in Congress was my Sanctity of Human Life Act. When the people of the 9th District send me back to Washington, that is the first bill I will introduce when I get there.”
He grew up in Athens, Ga., where he attended Athens High School and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1967 with a B.S. in chemistry. In 1971, he received his M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. An internship at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, OR, and a residency at University Hospital in Birmingham, AL, followed.
Rep. Collins has words of praise for retiring Sen. Isakson
News August 30, 2019
Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.)
GAINESVILLE, Ga — Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) released the following statement after Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) announced he will resign from the U.S. Senate at the end of 2019 after 40 years of public service.
“Johnny Isakson has been a standard of public service and statesmanship for decades in Georgia. He’s always drawn on his extensive roots in our state to deepen his advocacy for all Georgians. Johnny faithfully remembers the forgotten, including America’s veterans. I’ve looked up to him as a mentor and still work to emulate him.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Collins Praises Isakson Legacy
Announcements, Politics August 29, 2019|
GAINESVILLE, Ga.—Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) released the following statement after Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) announced he will resign from the U.S. Senate at the end of 2019 after 40 years of public service. “Johnny Isakson has been a standard of public service and statesmanship for decades in Georgia. He’s always drawn on his extensive roots in our state to deepen his advocacy for all Georgians. Johnny faithfully remembers the forgotten, including America’s veterans. I’ve looked up to him as a mentor and still work to emulate him.” |
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Rep. Collins hosts symposium on mental health resources
News August 15, 2019GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) hosted a symposium at Lanier Technical College Wednesday to explore mental health resources for first responders.
In 2018, at least 159 first responders nationwide died from suicide — nearly 10% more than the total number of line-of-duty deaths resulting from causes such as assault, vehicle accidents, heart attacks, and duty-related illness.
“Mental health is just as essential as physical health in order for our law enforcement officers to remain effective in keeping our communities safe, yet first responders often face serious trauma resulting from their line of work,” said Collins. “As the son of a Georgia State Trooper, I understand firsthand the challenges facing our officers, and I am committed to ensuring they have access to the resources needed to address their health and well-being.”
The following agencies presented on resources available for first responders: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration-Disaster Technical Assistance Center; Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services; Federal Emergency Management Agency-National Fire Academy; Department of Veterans Affairs-National Center on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Georgia Public Safety Training Center; Georgia State Patrol-Wellness Officer; Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office-Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator; and Hall County Employee Assistance Program.
The following agencies attended the symposium: Commerce Police Department; Forsyth County Sherriff’s Office; Habersham County Emergency Medical Service; Hall County Sheriff’s Office; Hall County Fire Service; and Jackson County Emergency Medical Service.
“I want to thank the many agencies who traveled near and far to participate in today’s symposium. Their feedback is invaluable as we explore ways to help meet the needs of our first responders, and I will continue to seek their input as we work towards drafting legislation to address these issues.”
In March 2019, the Department of Justice submitted a report to Congress detailing the gap of law enforcement mental wellness and programs. The report listed several recommendations to assist first responders’ access to mental health care, including possible legislative solutions.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Collins tours Parkdale Manufacturing facility in Rabun Gap
News October 3, 2019Rabun Gap, Ga. — Rep. Doug Collins (GA-09) visited Parkdale’s recently expanded and upgraded plant in Rabun Gap, one of the largest recent investments in the U.S. textile industry.
“Northeast Georgia has long been home to a robust textile industry, and it is heartening to see companies like Parkdale continuing the proud legacy in our region. Parkdale’s commitment to growth and innovation is felt not only by the hardworking Georgians they employ, but by the manufacturing industry as a whole,” said Collins. “I’m proud of the major investment they’ve made here in Rabun County, and I’m appreciative of the opportunity to visit their facility today.
Daniel Nation, Director of Government Relations at Parkdale, said, “This plant represents one of the largest textile investments in North America over the last five years. U.S. manufacturing is the bedrock of our economy and textile producers like Parkdale have made a strong commitment to investment and jobs as evidenced by our recent completion of a $101-million upgrade to our plant in Rabun Gap. It is now one of the most modern, automated open-end spinning factories in the world. We thank Congressman Collins for his continued support of the textile industry.”
Georgia ranks number one in textile employment nationally, contributing 50,645 textile jobs across the state. Capital expenditures in plants such as Parkdale’s facility in Rabun Gap have helped drive the overall investment of $20 billion in the industry over the past decade.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Collins bill would reduce cost of prescription drugs
News February 13, 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresssman Doug Collins reintroduced key legislation last week aimed at lowering the cost of prescription medication and increasing transparency in the drug pricing process. Introduction of this legislation comes after President Donald Trump called on Congress to directly address the rising cost of prescription drugs during his State of the Union address.
H.R. 1035, the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, requires greater transparency and accountability from Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs).
H.R. 1034, the Phair Pricing Act, lowers the cost of prescription medication for patients in the Medicare Part D program.
“For too long, we have turned a blind eye as pharmacy middlemen have manipulated drug prices to maximize their profit margin. The Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act will protect patients and pharmacies by increasing transparency over the drug pricing process, providing greater oversight to protect taxpayer dollars, and ensuring patients are able to choose their pharmacy,” said Rep. Collins.
“By requiring price concessions between pharmacies and middlemen be included at the point of sale, the Phair Pricing Act will guarantee patients at the pharmacy counter directly benefit from lower costs allegedly negotiated on their behalf.”
As middlemen in the pharmacy industry, PBMs determine which drugs are covered under federal programs including Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage Part-D, and FEHBP. They maintain Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) lists, which set the maximum reimbursement rate given to community pharmacies for drugs covered by federal programs. PBMs often take advantage of their role as middlemen by delaying price updates to maximize their profit margin while pharmacies are forced to sell prescriptions at a loss.
H.R. 1035 increases drug pricing transparency and accountability by accomplishing the following:
Ensures MAC pricing lists are updated every seven days for Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage Part-D, and FEHBP;
Preserves pharmacy access for patients by protecting their ability to choose a pharmacy;
Requires PBMs disclose sources used in MAC price determinations;
Provides greater oversight to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer funds in Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage Part-D, and FEHBP.
There is a clear gap between reality and the claims that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors negotiate with pharmacies on behalf of patients. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), PBMs and PDP sponsors often use these pharmacy rebates and price concessions to pad their profits instead of lowering the price patients pay for medications, which is the stated purpose of the rebates and price concessions.
H.R. 1034 protects patients and provides greater oversight by accomplishing the following:
Requires all price concessions between a pharmacy and PBM be included at the point of sale to decrease patient’s costs.
Realigns market incentives to ensure patients have access to and receive the best possible care.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a working group of stakeholders to create quality measures based on a pharmacy’s practice.
Ensures PBMs disclose all fees, price concessions, and programs to CMS.
Background: Rep. Collins introduced both the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act and the Phair Pricing Act in the 115th Congress.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Rep. Collins attends Georgia’s business launch pad
News August 13, 2019ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Yesterday, Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) visited Digital Ignition, Georgia’s newest business launching pad and official Blockchain, AI, IoT, and innovation incubator of the Forward Forsyth Partnership. During his visit, Collins participated in a roundtable with area tech leaders to discuss issues ranging from intellectual property and workforce development to procurement and finance policies.
“Tech companies are a critical part of our economy, and they represent America’s spirit of innovation,” said Collins. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to be part of the conversation as we work to promote innovation, safeguard intellectual property, and fuel our economy here in Georgia and beyond.”
Forsyth County leads the state in growth and is home to some of the largest and most innovative companies in Georgia. As a result, the county has one of the highest concentrations of technology and business executives in the state.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com