Latest California Healthline Stories
Can the ACA Solve Staggering Prescription Drug Prices?
Many Americans believe the ACA should act as a salve for all things that ail the nation’s health care system. In light of the ongoing debate over the high cost of Gilead’s new hepatitis C treatment, what is the law doing to hold down prescription drug prices?
Ballot Measure Aims at Patient Safety by Raising Limits on Malpractice Suits
Carmen Balber of Consumer Watchdog, Amitabh Chandra of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Cathy Frey of Central Valley Health Network and Richard Thorp of the California Medical Association spoke with California Healthline about the debate over Proposition 46, the November ballot initiative that would raise the cap on malpractice lawsuits and require drug-testing of physicians.
New Consortium Promotes Efficiency in Working Toward Clinical Trials
The process leading to clinical trials for new drugs — often inefficient and prolonged — is receiving a makeover from a new consortium of California health centers and medical research institutions, the Partnership to Accelerate Clinical Trials — or PACT.
How Should California Officials Deal With ‘Specialty Tier’ Pricing of Drugs?
We asked stakeholders and health care experts how California should handle “specialty tier” pricing of prescription drugs, a practice that requires some consumers to pay higher out-pocket-prices for some medications.
High-Priced Drug Could Be Deal Changer
Sovaldi, a drug for treating hepatitis C, has the potential to be a canary in the coal mine of drug policy. Government officials, insurance companies and consumers in many countries are grappling with the problem of how to pay for the effective but costly medication.
New Hepatitis C Drug Is Center Stage in Legislative Debate Over Mandates
Sovaldi, a new medication approved for public use in December 2013, has insurers worried. At $1,000 per pill, the drug is expensive but effective in treating hepatitis C. The Legislature is considering a bill to limit insurers passing along drug costs to consumers.
Drug Take-Back Bill Faces Opposition
A new bill in the California Legislature would require drug makers to create, finance and manage a statewide system for collecting and disposing of leftover prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The pharmaceutical industry and other business interests are lining up in opposition.
New Stewardship Responsibilities, Costs Proposed for Drug, Needle Manufacturers
Dealing with medical waste — unused drugs and used needles and syringes — is generating new policy questions in California: Whose responsibility is it and who pays?
Physician Group in Favor of Provisions Dropped From New California Law
A California law passed last session to crack down on prescription drug misuse had one requirement pulled from the bill, and now a national physician group is calling for renewed commitment to that requirement.
New Law, Funding Aim To Reinvigorate State’s Rx Drug Monitoring Program
Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, Tom Lenox of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, Jonathan Lucas of the San Diego County medical examiner’s office and Richard Thorp of the California Medical Association spoke with California Healthline about the growing concern among state and federal officials over prescription drug misuse, and the new law in California to fight it.