Louisiana Price Transparency Measures Go into Effect …With An Interesting Twist

According to LexisNexis State Net, during 2017, about half of the states and Congress collectively introduced almost 90 measures intended to address soaring prescription drug prices. Most would either cap drug prices or force drug makers to be more transparent with how they devise pricing for at least some medications. A handful of states, including Maryland (HB 631), Louisiana (SB 59) and Nevada (HB 539), have adopted such measures this year, and New York adopted a law in April as part of the budget that imposes greater scrutiny on drug makers over their pricing. There is also word that the Trump administration is planning action. Although the Food and Drug Administration has no direct control over drug prices, in a June blog post FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said his agency plans to encourage the development of additional lower-cost generic drugs. The effort would likely have a limited impact, however, as the growth in drug prices is largely driven by newer drugs under patent and without generic competition. In mid-June 2017, Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana signed two drug price transparency measures. HB 436 – unanimously passed by the legislature – requires manufacturers engaging in the marketing of prescription drugs in the state to make quarterly reports of the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) prices to the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy. SB 59 – also passed unanimously – requires the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy to post on a website t...
Source: Policy and Medicine - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs