In related news, every other state in the Union will now be facing higher prices on prescription drugs.
Quote from Leftism 101 (fill in the blanks): "No __________ should ever have to choose between _________________ or putting food on their table."
The Commie 'RATS always want to know who is going to "pay" for tax cuts. Well, who do you think is going to "pay" for these "discounts." Hint: It won't be the drug companies.
California is retarded.
This should be struck down with some interstate commerce rule. Others are indirectly supposed to subsidies the cost and incentive to develop new drugs. That's what this riule what basically cause. The genius behind such legislation seldom thinks of WHY in the US we develop drugs like AZT, Viagra...... profits! But that's an evil concept to some Californian Democrat.
"Drug companies, which oppose the plan, will have until August 2010 to comply (voluntarily)." was written. Does anyone else see an oxymoron here?
I would stop selling medicine in California. This is insane.
Why stop there? Why not require supermarkets to offer government set discounts on groceries? Require gas stations to offer government set discounts on gasoline? Require real estate agents to offer government set discounts on housing rentals and sales? Require department stores to offer government set discounts on clothing and many other household items? Hey, it's that easy, right?
And the rest of us will pay more in the meantime, or find drug treatments unavailable all together. If all the drug companies stick together and refuse to provide these discounts, then Medi-Cal will have no one they can list as a preferred provider. They need to band together to sink this. Who are Arnold and his socialist buddies in the legislature to dictate the price of anything?? I am leaning more and more towards voting 3rd party for governor come November. Arnold's triangulation is going to lose him his base.
Pot? Crank? Blow? Horse?
"....And you thought that Socialism was dead...hah!
40% off? Well, ok. But I get about %50 off using Canadian pharmacies, and I don't pay a $10 fee. Californians may turn their nose up at paying more than they have to and being means tested.
There's no such thing as a free lunch and there's no such thing as discount drugs; as Karl Marx could have told them, someone will pay.
Does California really think that the drug companies are into charity? The companies will just raise the prices the rest of us have to pay. So the non-working and poor will get a great discount, but the rest of us will pay even more to subsidize them.
Gee whiz, why should a person even try to get a decent job, with all the government handouts available out there? Why kill ourselves trying to earn a decent living when the government wants to take it away and give it to others, who do not have any great incentives to work or better themselves with a decent job, since the government helps them out?
"Republicans agree that expanding access to prescription drugs is an important priority, but we have many serious concerns about this prescription drug plan."By forcing companies to cut drug prices through price controls, which is the practical effect of this measure, we will jeopardize the development of life-saving drugs for all 35 million people in our state, drive up health insurance costs for all insured Californians, and threaten the jobs of thousands of highly skilled workers in this critical industry.
"Using a heavy-handed approach to force drug companies to participate may have the unintended and dangerous consequence of taking away critical medications for vulnerable Californians who depend upon Medi-Cal.
"Also troubling is the proposal's vague language that could extend eligibility for prescription drug discounts to illegal immigrants living in California. This misguided approach disrespects the millions of legal immigrants who have worked hard to achieve the American Dream, and provides a costly incentive for more illegal immigrants to locate here.
"Californians deserve the right to choose the prescription drug plan that is best for them - one that keeps the government bureaucrats out of their medicine cabinet and out of their doctor's office. We believe market-based solutions, like health savings accounts, are the best approach to ensure that families have access to affordable prescription drugs."
While Plescia gets some of it right, his comments supporting more socialized programs are gaggers.
George, using "heavy-handed approach to force drug companies to participate" is just flat out wrong.