By Mayu Altekar-Okazaki
Forum Media
Around 10% of Californian adults are diagnosed with diabetes. That means one in ten adults have to take insulin to regulate their blood sugar levels and stay healthy. Like any other prescription medicine, insulin comes with a heavy price tag that can be quite burdensome. Many people are forced to choose between paying their bills, getting food on the dinner table, and taking care of themselves and their health. This is a choice that no one should have to make. In an effort to resolve this issue, the Healthcare and Mental Health committee made an amendment to section 127677 of the Health and Safety code. This amendment would limit the wholesale acquisition cost of large manufacturers of prescription drugs.
Presently, the wholesale acquisition cost for these large manufacturers is 2000%. Amending this bill would limit the wholesale acquisition cost to 200%, decreasing by 5% every five years. This periodic decrease would terminate at 175% over the 25 year long trial period. Manufacturers would receive 120 days of notice before the bill is put into effect. If manufacturers decide to not follow this law, their products will be taken off shelves while they change their prices. The time it takes for them to change their prices will be doubled, and that will be the time their products will not be put on shelves to sell.
Overall, this bill would help make prescription medicine more available to those who need it, especially those who have low income. Keeping everyone healthy is always a goal in our society, and this bill is one of the many things we can do to help achieve it.
The Daily Delegate 