A growing number of states consider legislation to treat pharma as a utility

A growing number of states consider legislation to treat pharma as a utility-stat: A
s prescription drug costs continue to frazzle Americans, lawmakers in several states are pushing to create commissions that would set prices that health plans, pharmacies, and state programs would pay for medicines, much like the rate-setting bodies that control public utilities.

Drugmakers Cancel Price Hikes After California Law Takes Effect

Drugmakers Cancel Price Hikes After California Law Takes Effect - A handful of the world’s biggest drugmakers are canceling or reducing planned price increases in the U.S., following a new California drug pricing transparency law and continued political pressure over pharmaceutical costs.

Despite U.S. Court’s Ruling, Medicaid Work Requirements Advance In Other States

Despite U.S. Court’s Ruling, Medicaid Work Requirements Advance In Other States - The fallout from Friday’s federal court ruling that struck down the Medicaid work requirement in Kentucky was swift.

States act on their own to fill holes Washington is knocking in Affordable Care Act

States act on their own to fill holes Washington is knocking in Affordable Care Act - The first Sunday after his inauguration, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order directing state agencies to report everything they could do to ramp up the visibility of the Affordable Care Act and persuade more people to buy health coverage under the law.

As Medicaid Costs Soar, States Try A New Approach

As Medicaid Costs Soar, States Try A New Approach - Sandy Dowland has been to the emergency room 10 times in the past year and was hospitalized during four of those visits. She has had a toe amputated and suffers from uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, major depression, obesity and back pain. But her health is not high on the 41-year-old woman’s priority list.

Primary Elections 2018: What to Watch For - The New York Times

Primary Elections 2018: What to Watch For - The New York Times: "Five states are holding primaries on Tuesday: Nevada, Virginia, Maine, South Carolina and North Dakota. Here’s what you need to know about key races in each state."

The Super Tuesday of 2018 has arrived. Here’s what you need to watch. - POLITICO

The Super Tuesday of 2018 has arrived. Here’s what you need to watch. - POLITICO: "Voters in eight states go to the polls Tuesday for the biggest single primary day of 2018. But the main event on this super Tuesday is in California."

Californians Go to Polls With High Stakes and Some High Anxiety - The New York Times

Californians Go to Polls With High Stakes and Some High Anxiety - The New York Times: "Candidates from governor and senator to county assessor and city councilor used the final hours before Tuesday’s primary to campaign across California, but state and national Democrats were anxiously watching three Orange County House districts where they fear their glut of contenders could lock them out of the general election."

California’s race for governor has become a referendum on resistance - The Washington Post

California’s race for governor has become a referendum on resistance - The Washington Post: "In the race to become governor of the nation’s most populous state, a place that has become synonymous with liberal resistance to Donald Trump, the president has seemed ­ever-present. The Democratic front-runner in Tuesday’s primary, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, has campaigned with a promise of fierce combat against a president widely unpopular here."

5 important voting rules to know before California's primary

5 important voting rules to know before California's primary: "While millions of Californians have already mailed in ballots for the Tuesday primary, most registered voters are either still considering their choices or will weigh in at a local polling place on election day."

California Democrats agonize over House primaries - POLITICO

California Democrats agonize over House primaries - POLITICO: "California Democrats agonize over House primaries" IRVINE, Calif. — Omar Siddiqui, a long-shot Democrat running for Congress in Southern California, was guaranteed two questions at a crowded candidate forum last week. But instead of probing his positions or qualifications, the moderators questioned his very presence in the race: “Shouldn’t you consider dropping out?”

Meidcaid expansions move forward - Axios

Vitals - May 30, 2018 - Axios: "Medicaid expansions move forward"  Virginia's state legislature appeared to make some progress yesterday toward adopting the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion, which would cover some 400,000 people in the stare, per the AP.

Texas women roar onto November ballot - POLITICO

Texas women roar onto November ballot - POLITICO: AUSTIN, Texas — A groundswell of female candidates in Texas has resulted in a record number of women on the ballot in November — and a guarantee that the state will have at least two new female members of Congress next year.

California rebukes Trump with health care push for immigrants - Politico

California rebukes Trump with health care push for immigrants - Politico: "California is poised to become the first state in the nation to offer full health coverage to undocumented adults even as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown by separating families at the border."

States race to stabilize Obamacare after Congress fails

States race to stabilize Obamacare after Congress fails-washingtonexaminer: States are hurriedly pursuing legislation to try to stabilize Obamacare's insurance exchanges and bring down prices next year after congressional efforts to do so collapsed.

Vermont transparency pricing law may show big price hikes, but disappoints lawmakers

Vermont transparency pricing law may show big price hikes, but disappoints lawmakers-stat: Nearly two years ago, Vermont became the first state in the country to adopt a law requiring drug makers to justify price hikes for medicines. The move was greeted with cautious enthusiasm by consumer advocates and lawmakers who hoped the effort might be the first step toward forcing the pharmaceutical industry to constrain its pricing.

California's drug transparency law yields early surprises

California's drug transparency law yields early surprises-politico: California’s first-in-the-nation drug pricing transparency law is beginning to kick in — and to spur copycats, with Oregon’s governor last week signing a law that requires drug companies to disclose cost components they have long considered proprietary.

In Democrat-led state capitals, GOP tax reform push could scramble fiscal plans

In Democrat-led state capitals, GOP tax reform push could scramble fiscal plans-politico: The Republican tax reform push in Washington is setting off budgetary alarm bells in high-tax states like New York, California and New Jersey, in the latest political skirmish to pit national Republicans against Democratic state and big-city leaders.

[California] Gov. Brown signs drug pricing transparency bill

[California] Gov. Brown signs drug pricing transparency bill-mercurynews: Saying there is “real evil when so many people are suffering so much from rising drug profits,” Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday signed into law what is believed to be the nation’s most comprehensive legislation aimed at shining a light on prescription drug pricing.

Eyes Fixed On California As Governor Ponders Inking Drug Price Transparency Bill

Eyes Fixed On California As Governor Ponders Inking Drug Price Transparency Bill-kaiserhealthnews: Insurers, hospitals and health advocates are waiting for Gov. Jerry Brown to deal the drug lobby a rare defeat, by signing legislation that would force pharmaceutical companies to justify big price hikes on drugs in California.