Some Experts Skeptical That Newsom’s Ambitious Drug Pricing Plan Will Significantly Reduce Spending
Gov. Gavin Newson's plan involves allowing for negotiations with Medi-Cal, but experts say California might not wield enough leverage to make a difference.
Sacramento Bee:
Will California Gavin Newsom Drug Pricing Plan Save Money?
Gov. Gavin Newson wants to deliver lower drug prices by harnessing the full weight of the state against the pharmaceutical industry, but it’s unclear whether his team can get a better deal without giving up something Californians want. In his first act as governor, Newsom issued an executive order creating the largest single purchaser of prescription drugs in the country. (Finch, 1/16)
Meanwhile —
The California Health Report:
Supporters Cheer Focus On Child Health And Wellbeing In Newsom's Budget
Efforts to improve the health and education of California’s children would get a giant funding boost under Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget, a prospect that’s generating a swell of excitement among child advocacy groups. The governor’s first budget proposal, released Jan. 10, offers numerous supports aimed directly at bolstering childhood health, including $105 million to pay for developmental and mental health screenings for low-income children, almost $110 million to expand home visiting programs that support new moms and their babies, and $260 million to extend full Medi-Cal coverage to undocumented young people ages 19 through 25. (Boyd-Barrett, 1/15)