Schwarzenegger Proposes Drug Discount Plan

[Kadie]

Jul 21, 2006 9:45 pm US/Pacific

Schwarzenegger Proposes Drug Discount Plan

Governor Schwarzenegger is Set To Propose A New Plan To Reduce The Price For Prescription Drugs For Low-Income Residents.

snip...
The plan is similar to Democratic proposals the governor has rejected in the past.

Under the new proposal, drug companies would have five years to offer discounts to people who earn less than three times the federal poverty level, or about $60,000 a year for a family of four.

Companies that do not cooperate could be cut out of the state's Medi-Cal program, which provides about $4 billion in drugs annually to poor and elderly people.

Belshe said the governor's plan, which would need approval from the Democratic-controlled state Legislature and the federal government, could reduce the cost of prescription drugs by 40 to 60 percent for participants.

Democrats said they were pleased the governor was proposing a plan that includes possible sanctions for noncompliant drug companies. But they called it an election-year change of heart designed to win votes.

more...
http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_203004811.html

[pooja]

1. Wow what a novel idea not to cater completely to drug co.

[napi21]

2. It's actually a good idea as far as I can tell, but was sonething like

this the intent of the Shrub admin all along? Do either something stupid like forbid the HHS from negotiating prices on drugs, or do nothing at all at the Fed level, only to force the States to do something on their own?

We've all seen him shove more and more expenses and responsibilities onto the individual States, so was this another one?

[warrior1]

3. I wonder what democrat

he stole this from.

[msongs]

4. dems do not have a governor candidate in CA - he seems to have

disappeared, left the planet, yielded the field to arnold.

reports say the dem candidate is laying low preparing his strategy etc. the momentum gained against arnold in last year's massive defeat of his initiatives has dissipated.

the truth is, arnold is really a liberal democrat on social issues, and a repub on business issues. the repub $$ got him where he
is today, and if he would only renounce the repubs and be a real dem, we could all rejoice in that outcome if it were legitimate.


Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[sweetheart]

5. Just make all the drugs illegal

Then the street price will be lower, and every kid will have some.