California Assembly member Jim Wood, D-Healdsburg, seeks to ban drugmakers from issuing coupons that lower patients' prescription copayments for certain drugs, reports California Healthline.
Here are four things to know.
1. A bill introduced by Assemblyman Wood would make it unlawful to distribute prescription drug coupons when there is a less expensive equivalent that approved by the Food and Drug Administration available, according to the article.
2. His goal with the bill is to control health costs.
3. Assemblyman Wood advocated for the bill by saying drug coupons are used as a "marketing tool to drive patients to higher-priced drugs," and that using prescription drug coupons drives up the cost of health insurance premiums, reports California Healthline.
4. However, the article states, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association, recently defended prescription drug coupons in a paper, saying they help "patients access needed medicines at reduced prices."
For more on this story, read P
More articles on supply chain:
US representative pushes legislation to curb drug prices: 5 things to know
Study: Amgen's Repatha lowers risk of heart problems
Government subpoenas Biogen over MS drug prices