State Senator Introduces Bill To Curtail Pharma’s ‘Arms Race Of Profit Generation’
The proposal would require manufacturers to give 90 days' notice to purchasers before significantly increasing a drug's price.
Los Angeles Times:
Claiming Momentum Is On Their Side, California Lawmakers Try Again To Require More Transparency On Drug Prices
California Democrats, labor unions, health insurers and consumer advocacy groups — along with newly joined backer Tom Steyer, the billionaire activist — are restarting their effort to shed more light on prescription drug prices after a similar measure sputtered last year. State Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) unveiled his new bill at a Capitol news conference Wednesday. (Mason, 3/15)
Capital Public Radio/KXJZ:
Sen. Hernandez Takes Another Shot At Drug Price Transparency Bill
Under SB 19, drugmakers would have to notify consumers 90 days in advance of a substantial price hike. Sen. Hernandez says his bill would also require health plans to report the proportion of the premiums spent on prescription drugs. "Looking at what's happening with our health care system right now, at the end of the day, consumers always going to want and demand lower health care prices and it's our responsibility in government to make sure they have it," he says. (Johnson, 3/16)
KPCC:
State Senator Introduces New Drug Price Transparency Bill
[Drug makers] would also have to describe any changes or improvements to the effectiveness of the drug that explain the increase, or state if there were none. The regulations would apply to drugs with a wholesale cost above $600 a month whose price increased by more than 25 percent in the previous three years, and to drugs with a wholesale cost less than that amount whose price increased by more than 10 percent over the same time period. (Plevin, 3/15)