Eye on California's Nov. 8 prescription drug battle Posted by ayusra at 10/11/05 11:23 AM

Keep an eye on a Nov. 8 ballot initiative in California that could have repercussions on the price you pay for prescription drugs in your own state. An underfunded but highly motivated group of consumer and community organizations is duking it out with the pharmaceutical industry and its megabucks ad campaign, each with competing proposals.

Proposition 79, backed by over 150 organizations, allows the state to use its clout as a big purchaser of drugs to negotiate enforceable prescription drug discounts for Californians. The industry's Proposition 78 relies on a voluntary program that failed once before in 2001. Maine has tried an enforceable discount approach and has been able to provide consumers with more affordable medicines than a voluntary program in Ohio tailored after the industry's proposal. Worth watching.

comments (1)

1 Posted by Min at 10/11/05 03:31 PM

The unfortunate thing about this battle is that the drug companies will spend over $75 million to confuse California voters so they will not pass Prop. 79. It truly is the little guy vs. the big companies. I hope voters will see right through this and vote yes.