DEMS SET TO OFFER UP PRESCRIPTION BILL AGAIN.Byline: Harrison Sheppard Sacramento Bureau Democratic lawmakers said Monday they would try again with a package of bills aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, in California, a plan that was vetoed last session by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): [ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈaloɪ̯s ˈʃvaɐ̯ʦənˌʔɛɡɐ] . The current package includes several new and expanded elements, including giving the state more authority to study drugs on the market and pull them from stores in California if the federal government fails to take adequate steps. It also would create a Web site that would help consumers buy prescription drugs from Canada, Ireland and England. A similar bill last session only involved Canadian pharmacies. ``Californians are angry that many of them are being forced to cut pills in half and skip doses or even choose between buying medicine or food in order to meet their prescription drug needs,'' said Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. Dario Frommer Dario Frommer (born October 22, 1963 in Long Beach, California) was a member of the California State Assembly from 2000 until 2006. He served as Majority Leader from 2004 until 2006. Frommer also served as Chair of the Health Committee. , D-Glendale, a co-author co·au·thor or co-au·thor n. A collaborating or joint author. tr.v. co·au·thored, co·au·thor·ing, co·au·thors To be a collaborating or joint author of: "He and a colleague . . . of several of the bills. Other bills would have the state consolidate its bulk purchasing Bulk Purchasing is when products are bought in large quantities. This often results in a lower price per item, or Unit price. Wholesale is selling or related to selling goods in large quantities for resale to the consumer. of drugs through one agency to negotiate better discounts; create a 900 number as a hotline for consumers with questions about drug programs available to them; require more financial disclosure by middlemen known as pharmacy pharmacy, art of compounding and dispensing drugs and medication. The term is also applied to an establishment used for such purposes. Until modern times medication was prepared and dispensed by the physician himself. In the 18th cent. benefit managers, whose practices are believed to sometimes steer consumers toward more expensive drugs; and establish a state program to create a discount on medications for low-income Californians. Schwarzenegger cited several different concerns when he vetoed the bills last year, including that helping people buy drugs from a foreign country could violate federal law. He also opposed the creation of a state consortium to buy drugs because he said it would undermine existing state programs. He did, however, say he supported the goal of lowering the cost of prescription drugs in California. The Schwarzenegger administration is expected to issue its own prescription drug plan later this year. Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy Kevin McCarthy may refer to any of the following individuals:
``This is an old idea that has failed before,'' McCarthy said. ``I don't think you just give it a new bill number and that makes it any better.'' Harrison Sheppard, (916) 446-6723 harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com |
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