Latest News On Drug Costs

Latest California Healthline Stories

New Medicare Advantage Tool To Lower Drug Prices Puts Crimp In Patients’ Choices

Federal officials are allowing the private insurance plans to use “step therapy” for drugs administered by doctors. In step therapy, patients must first use cheaper drugs to see if they work before receiving more expensive options.

The High Cost Of Hope: When The Parallel Interests Of Pharma And Families Collide

Desperate for help in finding a lifesaving drug for a fatal genetic disease, families banded together to fund early research and then worked with drug companies on clinical trials and marketing. Yet, this small patient advocacy group is stunned by pharma’s pricing.

Lawmakers Push To Protect Patients And Counter Trump

California legislators approved some significant health care proposals in their rush to meet the Friday end-of-session deadline. They tackled controversial topics, such as making abortion pills available on college campuses, and adopted measures countering Trump administration attacks on the Affordable Care Act.