No More Being Propped Up

Posted on November 2, 2005 in California Watch Class Medications Psychotropics

With the California Election coming in just a few days, I have to do some obligatory politics blogging. And my focus must be on Propositions 78 and 79. My position comes down to this: NO on 78 and YES on 79. If you are going to wrestle with the excessive costs of prescription medicine here in California, you are going to have to put on the suit, flex the muscles, and jump between the ropes. There’s no pussyfooting around here which is what the proponents of Proposition 78 want you to do.

Proposition 78 sets up a do-nothing “relief program” for prescription medications. If you voted for AHnold and still think it was a good idea, then this proposition is for you. Those who aren’t afraid of balancing the checkbook and getting the value for their buck will want to note that drug companies are under no obligation to participate in the program. When attempting to define the savings to consumers, legislative analysts can only say “unknown”: we don’t know if the drug companies will be good guys or not.

I think it is best to assume that they won’t be, not in the long run.

It could well work like this: following the passage of Proposition 78, some companies will give minimal consumer rebates to the poor. When the smoke of angry consumer sentiment clears, we will see that most of them have left the field. California’s ill will find themselves paying the same old high prices as before or worse. Just remember what AHnold has done for the state.

78 went on the ballot to distract voters from a better initiative, Proposition 79 “Prescription Drug Discounts. State-Negotiated Rebates. Initiative Statute.” Here are its advantages:

• Rebates
• Enforcement of said rebates — all drug companies must participate like it or not.
• Eligibility for twice as many Californians
• The purchasing power of the state government will bring prices down
• Discounts of up to 50 percent or more for those who need it most
• Savings for consumers

This is a rare chance in this “special election” to cast a vote against the corporations and secure reasonable regulation for Californians. In the “free market” years, we gave up much necessary controls over the profit-taking of big business. Prices skyrocketed as regulations were dropped. We’re overdue for reform.

Speaking as a sufferer of several illnesses, I must say that I cast my full support behind Proposition 79. Too often I have seen friends pushed to the limit when it comes to purchasing the medications they require to sustain their quality of life. The recent Medicare/Medical changes in prescription drugs have put terrific strain on those who attempt to survive with their disabilities. If you are against this initiative or wavering, then you have no clue of the time which is wasted signing and re-signing your name to forms, attending interviews, and waiting for answers. Prop 79 won’t end these problems, but it will make the effort worthwhile for an accidental class of poor, thrown there not by laziness but by sickness.

If you are concerned about those mentally ill persons who don’t take their meds consider this: the high cost of medications is a common impediment to compliance. When the cost is too high and interferes with your ability to have food and shelter, guess where the money will go.

Meds in California cost too damn much. We pay more than anyone anywhere else in the world. It’s time to end the outflow to the drug companies and keep some of that money here.