"Gag Clause" Provisions Outlawed
This week, I joined President Trump as he signed my proposal to ban "gag clause" provisions into law. 


Rep. Carter joins President Trump at the White House for the signing ceremony of legislation to ban "gag clause" provisions

In case you missed it, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) were able to include requirements in contracts that prevented pharmacists from providing advice to their patients on the best and cheapest out-of-pocket alternatives to medications covered under insurance. This is commonly known as a "gag clause." As a result, you could be paying more for your prescription than you need to. 

Now, this is outlawed and pharmacists will be able to tell you about the best and cheapest options available. 

It was an honor to join President Trump as he signed this important legislation making it law. Click here to view the signing ceremony. 

Now, I am committed to continuing this work with my colleagues in Congress and President Trump to lower prescription drug prices and health care costs for all Americans. 

From our Nation's cApitol CLXXXIII

Monday, October 8, 2018:  This past weekend was a busy one as on Saturday morning I joined in the 13th annual Buddy Walk at Forsyth Park in downtown Savannah.  This great event is sponsored by the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS), a family support group that benefits people with Down syndrome and their families in eight surrounding counties in the Savannah area.  This is a very special group to me as I grew up with an Aunt who had Down syndrome.  Along with my good friend Joe Marchese and his beautiful daughter Emma, I walked part of the route with the thousands of people supporting this great cause.  Later in the afternoon, I traveled down to Kingsland in Camden County where I met with constituents from the surrounding area.  Yesterday, I flew from Savannah to Atlanta where I was honored to speak at the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AA0-HNSF) annual meeting.  After being introduced by my good friend, Dr. Michael Zoller from Savannah, I was able to bring the group up to date on the latest health care news in Washington and then enjoyed answering questions.  Afterwards, I flew back to Jacksonville and stopped in Brunswick on my way home to Pooler for a meeting with constituents.  This morning I’m honored to be at the 4th Annual Folds of Honor Stars and Stripes Golf Tournament held at the Savannah Country Club on Wilmington Island.  The mission of the Folds of Honor is to provide educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members.

Rep. Carter playing in the Folds of Honor Stars & Stripes Golf Tournament

This year’s event is chaired by Col. David Simons of Savannah and the special guest is Ginger Ravella whose husband, an F16 pilot, was killed in a combat mission in 2006 leaving her with five children, all under the age of 8 at the time.  All of Ginger’s children are receiving scholarships for school provided by the Folds of Honor.  Later in the afternoon, I head to Skidaway Island for a meeting with constituents before heading to Tybee Island for another meeting with constituents about important issues to them. 

Tuesday, October 9, 2018:  For the fifth year in a row, I’m at Richmond Hill Montessori Preschool in Bryan County to read to students in celebration of Georgia Pre-K week.  This year I get to read the classic Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type to four classes and participate in an activity where we make cow masks out of paper plates. 

Rep. Carter reading to Richmond Hill Montessori Preschool

Afterwards, I head to downtown Savannah where I attend the inaugural State of the Airport address given by Savannah Airport Commission executive director Greg Kelly as he outlines the growth of the airport throughout the years as well as future expansion. 

Rep. Carter at the State of the Airport Address

I am very proud that our office was successful this year in helping the commission secure an $8 million grant to fund a terminal apron expansion.  Later in the day, I head back down to Richmond Hill to meet with a group of students from Richmond Hill High School.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018:  I’m on a plane to Washington bright and early this morning and, once back in my office on Capitol Hill, I have the opportunity to catch up on some paperwork as well as meet with my policy team to review their work over the past few weeks.  While I’m away from Washington my legislative staff takes meetings with different groups visiting the Capitol and keeps me informed of their work.  Early in the afternoon, I head to the White House where the President has invited me to a bill signing ceremony in the Roosevelt Room.  The two bills being signed are companion bills to my legislation, the Know the Cost Act, that eliminates the “gag clause” provisions in health plans that prevent pharmacists from providing advice to their patients on the best and cheapest out-of-pocket alternatives to medications covered under insurance. 

Rep. Carter at the White House signing ceremony of legislation to ban "gag clause" provisions

As the only pharmacist currently serving in Congress, I know firsthand how important it is for pharmacists to help patients access the lowest cost options and that is why I took the lead on this legislation.  A link to the C-SPAN coverage of the bill signing ceremony can be found here. Afterwards, I head back to the airport for my return flight home. 

Thursday, October 11, 2018:  Thankfully, most of our district was spared from the ravages of Hurricane Michael that hit the Florida panhandle yesterday.  While our thoughts and prayers go out to those who were impacted by this devastating storm, we are glad that we were spared and also glad that our emergency management leaders did such an outstanding job preparing us for the worst.  Because of the bad weather, most of our events in the district for today and tomorrow have been canceled but I start my morning with a radio interview with my good friends Bill Edwards and Laura Anderson with WTKS in Savannah as we discuss my trip to the White House yesterday when the President signed my “gag clause” legislation into law. Later in the day, I have television interviews with Savannah stations WJCL, WSAV and WTOC before having a phone interview with the Savannah Morning News to discuss my “gag clause” legislation. A link to the WSAV interview can be found here.          


 
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