Bills Pass CA Assembly Health Committee to Address Health Care Costs and Transparency Amid Pandemic
The California Assembly Health Committee heard and passed a number of bills today aiming to lower costs and improve transparency in the health care system for California consumers. Today’s hearing was the only policy hearing for the committee this spring due to scheduling changes from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Website for New Prescription Drug Price Transparency Law (SB 17) Now Live
Implementation of the ground-breaking California law to provide transparency and notice of prescription drug price increases is moving ahead full steam. The law will take effect on January 1, 2018, but the the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) has already made live the registry for public and private purchasers to receive 60-day notice […]
Setting National Policy, CA Governor Brown Signs SB 17 on Prescription Drug Price Transparency
This morning, California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 17 by Senator Ed Hernandez, nationally influential prescription drug price legislation, at a rare signing ceremony at the State Capitol. The new law will require prescription drug companies to provide advance notice and explanation for any price hike of more than 16% over two years. Despite a heavy […]
New year, new bill, new momentum for prescription drug price transparency…
During the campaign, President Trump vowed he would “bring down drug prices” through negotiation and other means, and earlier this year repeated that promise, saying the drug companies were “getting away with murder.” Yet when the President actually met with PHRMA CEOs just a month and a half ago, he seemed to capitulate to the […]
The Fight Continues on Prescription Drug Costs, Despite the Demise of SB 1010
Big Pharma may have big money, but every voter knows someone personally concerned about the rising cost of prescription drugs. By bill or ballot measure or some other means, there has to be transparency and some relief on prescription drug prices.
Key Patient Rights Legislation Up Next Week
Yesterday, the Assembly Health Committee passed one consumer protection measure, SB 923 (Hernandez) on a vote of 17-0, to prevent mid-year increases in co-payments and other cost-sharing by a health plan. Other key legislation also authored by Senate Health Committee Chair Dr. Ed Hernandez and sponsored by Health Access California to protect patients from unfair […]
Legislative Priorities Clear Deadlines
As the April 22 policy deadline approached, all of Health Access’ priority bills made it over the finish line. Last week, the legislative committees voted on two important bills that will increase transparency in our health care system. Transparency for Prescription Drug Costs Prescription drugs are the health service most commonly used by consumers and […]
Patient-Protection Bills Moving Forward in Legislature
With the legislative session in full-swing, Health Access California’s bills are moving full steam ahead! Last week, SB 908 and SB 1135 both passed the Senate Health Committee. SB 1135 (Monning) helps consumers know there are time limits on how long they have to wait to get health care appointments and who to complain to if […]
Labor and Consumer Groups Join Forces to Stop Surprise Medical Bills
This week, consumer and patient advocates re-launched their effort to prevent Californians from facing surprise out-of-network medical bills. Due to the failure of the legislature to act last year, California consumers continue to receive surprise medical bills from out-of-network providers after using in-network medical facilities. These bills could come from an out-of-network anesthesiologist, pathologist, radiologist […]