Score A Win For A Local Gov’t In Fight To Get Drugmakers To Pay Cost Of Take-Back Program
Snohomish County, Wash., officials voted this week to require drug companies to run a program to help consumers get rid of unwanted and unused medicines. In Los Angeles County, however, the Board of Supervisors pushed off consideration of a similar ordinance until November. At that time, the officials also will review an existing disposal program for which the pharmaceutical industry does not pay the tab.
Stat:
Pharma Loses One Battle Over Drug Take-Back Programs, But Wins Another
The latest skirmishes over drug take-back programs yielded a mixed outcome this week for the pharmaceutical industry, which has been battling local governments that want drug makers to pick up the tab. (Silverman, 6/16)
In other news, North Carolina lawmakers are considering legislation that would limit and in some cases prohibit the prescription drug practice known as "step therapy" —
North Carolina Health News:
Patient Advocates Push For Limits On Step-Therapy Prescription Practices
Patients, doctors and family members affected by the prescription practice called “step therapy” brought personal stories to the [North Carolina] General Assembly Thursday in support of a bill that would prohibit it in some cases and limit it in others. The bill, House Bill 1048, defines step therapy as an approach “under which patients are required to try one or more prescription drugs before coverage is provided for a drug selected by the patient’s health care provider.” (Goldsmith, 6/17)