Gov. Wolf’s biggest PAC donor includes money from secretive compounding pharmacies

Philadelphia Inquirer| William Bender | March 9, 2018

Gov. Wolf has dozens of political action committees helping to fund his reelection, but one PAC towered above them all last year.

Fairness PA, based in Center City, poured $1 million into Wolf’s campaign coffer during the second half of 2017 — twice the total from  any other committee for the year.

When Democrat Wolf disclosed his biggest campaign donor in a required January filing, the low-profile PAC got brief mentions in the Harrisburg press as being funded by labor unions, teachers, Philadelphia-area lawyers, and prominent Democratic donors.

A closer analysis shows that Fairness PA has also become a channel for doctors and lawyers who own pharmacies to put their campaign contributions to use. Their donations are coming in as lawmakers debate a bill that could put an end to the controversial practice of pharmacies billing insurers for unproven pain creams that can cost $4,000 a tube or more.

The Republican-backed legislation would create a list of drugs, known as a formulary, covered under the state workers’ compensation program, similar to the lists used by standard health insurance plans, Medicare, and Medicaid to manage costs.  Read more.

 

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