Democrats take action on prescription drugs

The Colorado House and Governor Bill Ritter are both taking action to lower the cost of prescription drugs. A press release from the House reads, in part:

House leaders fast-tracked a bill that would provide more than 260,000 people in Colorado with huge discounts on prescription drugs. "I'm thrilled that this historic bill is one of the first bills that Governor Ritter will sign," said Rep. [Alice] Madden. "We're not going to wait any longer to provide affordable prescription drugs to the people who really need them."

The bill would create the Colorado Cares Rx program, which allows the state to negotiate a fixed price for generic and non-patented drugs with manufacturers. Pharmacies that voluntarily participate in the program would then be able to sell the drugs to needy citizens who are eligible to participate in the program.

Meanwhile, Ritter today signed an executive order directing the state to "establish a Preferred Drug List for the purchase of prescription pharmaceuticals for Medicaid clients." The move is expected to save the state at least $1.6 million.