Rhode Island Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Proposes Plan to Address Prescription Drug Costs
Rhode Island gubernatorial candidate Myrth York (D) on June 30 announced a four-part plan to help reduce prescription drug costs for the state's "working families," the Providence Journal reports. Under the plan, the state would:
- Implement a program in which the state would negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for discounts on prescription drugs similar to those received for "its own agencies and programs." York spokesperson Ray Sullivan said that York would not set an "income cap" for state residents who participate in the program.
- Join a purchasing pool established by Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to "jointly buy prescription drugs and increase their discounts." According to Sullivan, York said that the purchasing pool could save the state as much as 10% to 15% on prescription drug costs if all six New England states participate.
- Promote the state's prescription drug hot line, a program that provides state residents with information about "what prescription assistance programs are already available to them." Sullivan said that "many people are unaware the hot line exists."
- Propose legislation that would prohibit drug makers from "counting advertising as part of their operating expenses," a figure used to determine whether the companies qualify for state tax incentives. York hopes to "rein in the money pharmaceutical companies are spending" on advertising to "make sure they're devoting more of this funding toward research and development," Sullivan said (Anderson, Providence Journal, 7/2).
