“State officials say efforts to lower what the state pays for drugs is already saving millions of dollars annually, and in a hearing Tuesday, legislators turned their attention to further reforms of drug pricing and access.
The state’s Joint Committee on Health Care Financing heard testimony Tuesday from dozens during a virtual hearing, reviewing a slate of bills that were aimed at reducing drug costs, increasing transparency, and strengthening drug access.
“Medicine is a key component in increasing health outcomes, extending longevity and improving our quality of life and pharmaceutical companies play a crucial role in the development of those medications,” said State Sen. Cindy Friedman, who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. “But drug prices continue to soar and life-saving medications are becoming more and more out of reach for far too many patients. We must address this serious and ever-growing problem.”
Read the full article here.