SB 2017-136: Cheaper Medicine Helps The Poors Act (Passed)

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

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People's Regional Senate
Pending[/quote]
Civilian Originated: Mr. Reactionary
Senate Sponsor: Scott

I hereby open the floor for debate.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Thanks to Mr. Reactionary for authoring this spruced-up version of the bill that was on the Senate queue.

This is yet another bill geared toward lowering the costs of healthcare in Atlasia, without reducing the quality of care.

To summarize -

Section 2 imposes an "anti-kickback" rule against drug companies which pay doctors to prescribe expensive medicine.  Nearly three-quarters of doctors across five common medical fields received payments by drug companies in 2014.  One example, Genentech, pays doctors $50,000 annually if they sign confidentiality agreements and use large amounts of Lucentis at more than $2,000 per dose, rather than the less-expensive Avastin at $50 per dose.  These two drugs, both produced by Genentech, are nearly identical.  By blocking these contracts which give doctors the incentive to prescribe the most expensive drugs, public and private costs alike will go down.

Sections 3 and 4 categorizes certain medications and medical devices as over-the-counter, which will make them cheaper and readily available to consumers.

Section 5 regulates and monitors sale of amphetamine salts and cough syrups which include codeine so that they are less likely to be abused.

Finally, section 6 encourages use of "telemedicine," or medical services provided via internet or mobile device, by reducing the need for frequent in-person consultations and covering these services under AtlasCare.

Other ideas in mind which the Congress might want to consider:

- Banning drug advertising, as other countries like Canada have done, so that consumers won't seek inappropriate or overpriced treatments
- Limiting drug price increases or gouging (as India has for drugs deemed "essential")
- Patent reform (I've asked Mr. Reactionary if he'd like to work on this in the future; my understanding of patent law is very limited, but currently drug patents are too easy to obtain and too difficult to invalidate.)

[Mr. Reactionary]

Other ideas in mind which the Congress might want to consider:

- Banning drug advertising, as other countries like Canada have done, so that consumers won't seek inappropriate or overpriced treatments

I would caution that under Virginia Board of Pharmacy v. VCCC, the supreme court held that a state law prohibiting the advertisement of medicine and prices, was unconstitutional on free speech grounds.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Other ideas in mind which the Congress might want to consider:

- Banning drug advertising, as other countries like Canada have done, so that consumers won't seek inappropriate or overpriced treatments

I would caution that under Virginia Board of Pharmacy v. VCCC, the supreme court held that a state law prohibiting the advertisement of medicine and prices, was unconstitutional on free speech grounds.

Noted.

[1978 New Wave skinny trousers]

I support this bill. I believe that decreasing the cost of health care without decreasing its quality is an admirable and noble policy idea. An anti-kickback rule seems like a good way of doing this, as does making some prescription medications over-the-counter. I also believe that it it is important to regulate substances that contain codeine in order to prevent them from being abused, and I am of the opinion that telemedicine should prove to be an effective and modern way of distributing medical services.

[Anna Komnene]

I support this bill. It seems to make a lot of sense. My only concern is with the amount of medicines we're making over the counter, I just don't know much about most of them. Having more of a rationale for why they're safe enough to move to OTC would be good.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

As an FYI, I've been working with Mr. Reactionary on patent reform and he sent some language to me last week.  He suggested that some of it could be amended to this bill, which I believe is appropriate given the context.

Therefore I am proposing this amendment:

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Sponsor Feedback: Origination
Status: Adopted

I support this bill. It seems to make a lot of sense. My only concern is with the amount of medicines we're making over the counter, I just don't know much about most of them. Having more of a rationale for why they're safe enough to move to OTC would be good.

I'm willing to hear concerns about a certain medicine being moved OTC, but making lifesaving drugs like insulin and penicillin readily available to patients is important.

[Mr. Reactionary]

A fine bill.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

If anyone has something to add, speak soon because I plan on bringing both my bills to a final vote this week so that the next PPT doesn't inherit a huge load.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

The question is now on the table.  Senators, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

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People's Regional Senate
Pending[/quote]

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Aye.

[ZuWo]

Aye

[Anna Komnene]

Aye

[1978 New Wave skinny trousers]

Aye

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Aye

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

This has enough votes to pass.  Senators have 24 hours to change their vote.

[PPT Spiral]

Aye

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

With six votes in favor, this unanimously passes the Senate.

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People's Regional Senate
Passed 6-0 in the Atlasian Senate assembled
Be it resolved, X President pro tempore[/quote]