“I am for doing away with our business to a company who took $55 million of our money that was supposed to be spent on the poor, the sick, the elderly, the mentally ill, the disabled,” said Currie, who is a nurse .

Currie’s amendment would require the state to contract with a nonprofit entity to manage Medicaid services.

Health plans hire pharmacy benefit managers to try to control costs in prescription programs. Among other duties, the management companies create lists of preferred drugs and negotiate rebates with pharmaceutical companies.

The bill was held for the possibility of more House debate, and it will move to the Senate for more work.