Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday vetoed a bill that would have brought a drug formulary into the state’s workers compensation system.
In a statement, the governor said he rejected S.B. 936 because its provisions would have hurt injured workers and would have no impact on the opioid crisis.
"Make no mistake, Senate Bill 936 is not a bill designed to fight the opioid crisis,” Gov. Wolf, a Democrat, said in the statement. “It is wrong to sacrifice health care for our first responders to protect the bottom-line for insurance companies and corporations.”
Insurers expressed disappointment over the veto.
“The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America is disappointed that Gov. Wolf vetoed Senate Bill 936,” said Micaela Isler, the Chicago-based organization’s assistant vice president of state government relations, in a statement. “However, the insurance industry is committed to working with the Governor’s office, lawmakers and regulators to implement the necessary reforms that have proven to reduce the prescription of addictive opioid drugs and assist injured workers return to work.”
The Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would require adoption of a drug formulary.