Calif. Lawmaker Yanks Drug Transparency Bill, Says It Was Watered Down By Amendments
All eyes have now turned to November's ballot initiative on the same issue.
Los Angeles Times:
As A Drug Pricing Transparency Bill Stumbles In Sacramento, The Battle Turns To November's Ballot
An effort to shed more light on prescription drug prices sputtered in the Legislature on Wednesday, dealing a setback to a burgeoning national movement to rein in healthcare expenses by curbing the cost of medication. The decision by state Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) to yank his bill from consideration after it was watered down in an Assembly panel marks an abrupt end to what promised to be the marquee lobbying battle of the legislative session, pitting Capitol heavyweights such as labor groups and health insurers against drug manufacturers. The measure’s demise is a significant victory for pharmaceutical companies, but not a full reprieve. (Mason and Bollag, 8/17)
Sacramento Bee:
Drug Companies Win Round Over Pricing In California Legislature
Legislation meant to discourage sharp increases in drug prices is dead for the year after the author pulled the measure Wednesday, blaming recent amendments that “have made it more difficult for us to accomplish our fundamental goal.” The action caps weeks of intense lobbying over Senate Bill 1010. The legislation had emerged as a major end-of-session fight pitting politically influential labor unions, health plans and other groups against the powerful pharmaceutical industry. More than 100 drug companies, unions, health plans and others had reported lobbying on the bill during the first half of 2016. (Miller, 8/17)
California Healthline:
Sen. Hernandez Pulls Bill On Drug Price Transparency
After being approved by a key committee last week, a bill that would have required drug companies to justify treatment costs and price hikes was pulled by its author on Wednesday. Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) said that he introduced the bill “with the intention of shedding light on the reasons precipitating skyrocketing drug prices.” But amendments by an Assembly committee last week make it difficult to accomplish this goal, he said in a statement. “The goal was transparency, making sure drug companies played by the same rules as everyone else in the health care industry,” he said. (Ibarra, 8/17)