Report Stemming From Calif.’s Drug Pricing Transparency Law Does Little To Move Needle In Debate, But Paints Picture Of Spending
The law requires drugmakers to notify insurers and government health plans at least 60 days before increasing list prices of any medicine. Although, the report was greeted with little hoopla, it does offer a broad look at drug spending in the state.
Stat:
California Reports Show Changes In Drug Spending As Makers Sue Over Release
For the first time since California passed a law designed to provide transparency into prescription drug pricing, the state released a pair of reports showing how much was spent on medicines, the costliest drugs, and the treatments that were most frequently prescribed, among other things. The reports generated little hoopla, but represent the latest tangible results of a drawn-out battle between state lawmakers and the pharmaceutical industry over the rising cost of medicines. With Congress failing to take action on a growing pocketbook issue, California pushed to require drug makers to provide alerts and justification for pending price hikes. (Silverman, 1/3)
In other news —
San Francisco Chronicle:
It’s Now Legal To Sell Home-Cooked Food — But There’s A Catch
Jan. 1 was supposed to be the date when, thanks to a new law, California cooks could apply to their local health department for permits to sell food cooked in their home kitchens. But because of the wording in AB626, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law in September, Bay Area cooks may have to wait months or years for the opportunity to do so. (Kauffman, 1/2)