RitcheyRch
08-27-2006, 05:37 PM
http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_239182802.html
Rev. Al Sharpton said that the prescription drug deal reached between Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will likely hurt the poor people it intends to help and should be amended.
Schwarzenegger and Democrats reached a drug deal last week that would allow uninsured, lower-income Californians receive discounts of up to 40 percent on name-brand drugs and 60 percent on generics.
Sharpton says the discount drug plan is a good idea, but without an amendment, many will lose access to their medication.
The problem, Sharpton says, is that drug companies will be punished by having their drugs removed from a preferred drug list used by Medi-Cal if they fail to offer discounts. That will hurt patients of Medi-Cal, which provides about $4 billion worth of drugs a year to the poor and elderly.
"If company A does not bring the prices down and their medication is removed, then I lose the medication, the patient loses the medication," Sharpton said. "The state should threaten companies, not the patients."
Instead, Sharpton says companies should lose tax breaks or be fined if they fail to comply. "
Clearly we need to lower the prices," Sharpton said. "The poor and underserved are the victims here."
Rev. Al Sharpton said that the prescription drug deal reached between Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will likely hurt the poor people it intends to help and should be amended.
Schwarzenegger and Democrats reached a drug deal last week that would allow uninsured, lower-income Californians receive discounts of up to 40 percent on name-brand drugs and 60 percent on generics.
Sharpton says the discount drug plan is a good idea, but without an amendment, many will lose access to their medication.
The problem, Sharpton says, is that drug companies will be punished by having their drugs removed from a preferred drug list used by Medi-Cal if they fail to offer discounts. That will hurt patients of Medi-Cal, which provides about $4 billion worth of drugs a year to the poor and elderly.
"If company A does not bring the prices down and their medication is removed, then I lose the medication, the patient loses the medication," Sharpton said. "The state should threaten companies, not the patients."
Instead, Sharpton says companies should lose tax breaks or be fined if they fail to comply. "
Clearly we need to lower the prices," Sharpton said. "The poor and underserved are the victims here."