It is interesting that some states are attempting to force pharmaceutical companies to discount their medications. The proposal in Maine is in the US Supreme Court with a decision expected later this year.
Justices are wondering why the Bush Administration has not dealt with this, and likely could end this program and would have federal authority to do so.
What is even more interesting is to see how the states are talking about how necessary drugs are to care for the poor and elderly.
This is a bit hypocritical since their copays and restrictions are reducing access to drugs and taking them out of the hands of poor and elderly and disabled patients.
So What Will It Be States? Are your going to believe your own arguments?
If so, remove the copays, limitations on the number of prescriptions, and restrictions on medications. They are only hurting patients, increasing costs, and damaging relationships with physicians, patients, pharmacists, and more.
Increased drug access is a good thing for poor people:
"At the most fundamental level, Maine Rx will provide needed assistance to
persons of
limited financial means - a Medicaid goal in itself," wrote state Attorney
General Steven
Rowe in the state's legal brief.
Many states are on record as supporting this area. Map of States with Discounts http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/drugaid.htm#Discount
Others argue that rebate programs will harm the poor eventually:
The drug industry's powerful lobbying group, Pharmaceutical Research and
Manufacturers
of America (PhRMA), however, warns that the program's strong-arm tactics will
hurt poor
patients. The program, were it not for a lower court injunction, "would have
limited Medicaid
patients' access to the newest and most effective medications," said Alan F.
Holmer,
president of PhRMA. "Doctors, not state bureaucrats, should decide which
medicines are
best for their patients," he added.
The Bush administration has filed an amicus brief in the case, urging a
ruling against Maine Rx, arguing in part that the program does not advance a
Medicaid-related goal.
The program was defended by Andrew S. Hagler of Augusta, an assistant state
attorney general, who contended that Maine Rx benefits the state Medicaid
program by reducing its costs. Availability of lower-cost drugs keeps patients
without insurance from having to go on the Medicaid rolls, he said.
http://www.townhall.com/news/politics/200301/NAT20030121b.shtml
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/023/nation/Supreme_court_wants_US_to_weigh_in_on_Maine_Rx+.shtml
Nearly half of the prescriptions filled last year through the state's suspended discount drug program were for diabetes and heart disease, two high-risk conditions for which drug treatment is often critical.... Another 11 percent were for mental health problems. http://www.pressherald.com/news/state/030116healthymaine.shtml