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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

CA Bill for Prescription-Drug Price Transparency Passes Key Committee

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Wednesday, June 29, 2016   

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In a big win for consumers, a bill passed the State Assembly Health Committee Tuesday to force pharmaceutical companies to justify how much they charge for prescription drugs and disclose large price hikes ahead of time.

Senate Bill 1010 faced massive opposition from the pharmaceutical industry.

But Blanca Castro with AARP California says many seniors simply can't afford rising drug prices, and she thinks greater transparency may help.

"Drug prices are completely out of control,” she states. “If drug companies are forced to provide pricing information, we believe that we'll begin to see some sort of control over the cost of prescription drugs."

The same committee also passed SB 908, which requires health insurers to provide notice to consumers if a rate hike has been deemed unjustified by state regulators.

Both bills now will move on to a vote before the Appropriations Committee, and then the full Assembly.

Another bill to benefit consumers goes before the state Senate Health Committee today.

Betsy Imholz, special projects director at Consumers Union, says Assembly Bill 72 would protect patients from huge surprise bills from out-of-network doctors.

"If this passes, consumers will pay only the in-network cost-sharing amount for any services that they get at an in-network hospital and any amounts that they do pay will count toward their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum in a way that they don't today,” she explains. “So it's a big cost saving for consumers."

A similar bill failed in committee last year. This year's version includes higher reimbursement rates for doctors as an enticement to garner more support.




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