Fourteen states have introduced bills that call on pharmaceutical companies to expose their drug pricing practices and justify price hikes, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, STAT reported. These legislative efforts have spurred opposition efforts from the pharmaceutical industry trade group, with some success.
Several such bills have stalled or died, according to the report. For instance, one closely watched bill in California, which set specific requirements for drugmakers to explain and disclose their pricing system, was “effectively gutted” last week by amendments added during a hearing, the chief consultant for the Senate Health Committee, told STAT.
If these bills become laws, they could support the collection of useful information on drug pricing. However, the extent to which the bills would actually result in lower prices is debated, according to the report.
“I don’t think the bills will be effective by themselves, but they do create more pressure to justify prices,” said John Rother, who heads the National Coalition on Healthcare, a group of insurers and employers, among others, that oppose rising drug prices, according to the report. He added, “And I don’t think industry would be trying so hard to defeat these bills if it didn’t think they would make a difference.”
More articles on supply chain:
Type O blood shortage hits the Pacific Northwest: 5 things to know
FDA notifies 14 international medical device companies about regulatory violations
VA to offer hepatitis C drugs to all veterans in its system: 6 things to know
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
