Pharmacy
Use of prescription drugs in Medicaid was lower in states with medical marijuana laws; estimated savings totaled about $1.01 billion.
PhRMA Senior VP Scott LaGanga led Partnership for Safe Medicines, which recently emerged as leading voice against bills allow drug imports.
Proposal would levy the tax directly on opioid manufacturers and wholesalers, who would pay 1 cent per milligram at the first point of sale.
Dubbed 'Operation Avalanche,' alleged fraud ring involved three Brooklyn clinics that spawned illegal oxycodone prescriptions, fraudulent Medicare claims.
Senate Bill 17 calls for price transparency; drug companies would have to announce large price hikes, give detailed justification explaining hike.
Critics say vulnerable patients are being manipulated and the goals promoted are skewed by pharma benefactors who want faster government approval.
Bill would close loophole in FDA law which allows branded drug makers to use closed distribution networks to block generics.
The Memphis-based company provides pharmacy services to more than 500 hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Office of Inspector General for the VA concluded overcharges had occurred going back to 2002, DOJ said.
Lawsuit filed days after EpiPen recall for potential defect in supplier component.