Proposition 61, a proposal to limit some drug prices in California to the price paid by the Veterans Administration, shapes up to be the most expensive initiative fight in California history due to the money the drug industry is spending against it.
As public outrage has erupted over a 500 percent price increase for life-saving EpiPens and a $1,000-per-pill cost for the most effective hepatitis C treatment, the pharmaceutical industry appears to be beyond shame.
Whittier Hospital Medical Center and San Gabriel Valley Medical Center agreed to contracts with their nurses and healthcare workers last week that include wage inreases of up to 26 percent over the four-year course of the agreements.
The best argument for passing Proposition 61 to cut drug prices in California, may be SB 1010, a modest effort to require the drug manufacturers give more notice and some justification when jacking up prices.
Heather Bresch, chief executive of pharmaceutical heavyweight Mylan, testified before lawmakers Wednesday that her company acted ethically and fairly when it jacked up the price of life-saving EpiPens by more than 500%.
