Latest California Healthline Stories
Can Drug Companies Survive Their Martin Shkreli Moment?
The pharmaceutical industry has been under scrutiny for the past month, after one executive’s decision to hike the price of a drug by more than 5,000% overnight attracted the attention of presidential candidates.
State Takes Steps To Curb Overmedication of Foster Children — Is It Enough?
Former foster child Shanequa Arrington, state Sen. Jim Beall, public health nurse Susan Bullard, Bill Grimm and Anna Johnson of the National Center for Youth Law, Cathy Senderling-McDonald of the California Welfare Directors Association and Mike Wofford of the state Department of Health Care Services spoke with California Healthline about the possible over-prescribing of psychotropic and antipsychotic medication for foster children in California.
Bill Addressing Expensive Specialty Drugs on Governor’s Desk
With the high cost of specialty drugs garnering national headlines and gaining a foothold in the presidential race, California legislators sent a bill to Gov. Brown that would put a cap on Californians’ prescription drug spending.
National Drug Take-Back Day Saturday
California’s participation in the 10th annual national drug take-back day this weekend is part of a statewide effort to control the misuse of prescription medications.
State Gets Grant To Curb Opioid Misuse
California is getting a $3.7 million federal grant to help prevent misuse of prescribed opioid medications.
ACA Improved Rx Drug Access, But Some Still Face Barriers to Finding Best Coverage
The Affordable Care Act requires health plans to include coverage for prescription drugs, but differing medication formularies, incomplete coverage information and other obstacles could be keeping consumers from actually using those benefits.
Debate over mandatory use of California’s Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System continues to simmer, as other states adopt mandatory compliance and the California Medical Association continues to oppose it.
Hearing Targets Foster Kids’ Medication
Foster children are prescribed psychotropic medications at a higher rate than other kids, and lawmakers convened to find out what’s being done about it.
New Study Offers Drug Pricing Lessons from Abroad, Urges Changes in U.S.
Authors of a new study on prescription drug pricing techniques used in other countries say it’s time for U.S. policymakers to take action to stem the rise in drug prices — especially for specialty drugs which account for a disproportionate amount of spending.
Drug Price Transparency Bill Shelved in California, Push Continues
A bill calling for drugmakers to explain high prices for specialty drugs is back on the drawing board in California, but other states and the Obama administration are pushing for more drug pricing transparency.