Councilman Catania Announces Passage
of Ill-Advised Drug Price Control Bill
David A. Catania
Councilmember, At-Large
July 6, 2005 Press Release
By a vote of 13 to 0, the D.C. Council today approved groundbreaking legislation aimed at reigning in prescription drug prices. The bill, authored by Health Committee Chairman David Catania, makes it illegal to sell patented medicines for an "excessive price". Final consideration of the measure is expected in early September.
Bolstered by support from the labor and faith communities, Catania detailed drug companies' questionable business practices including selling pharmaceuticals at incredibly varied prices.
"Prices of the top 30 brand-name drugs increased by 22 percent over the past 3 years - more than 4 times the rate of inflation," Catania exasperatedly explained.
As the cost of prescriptions goes up, drug companies' profits soar. All the while, consumers are forced to consider whether they can afford life-preserving medicines.
Catania's attempt to combat soaring pharmaceutical costs has undergone change since initial approval in May. His bill declares that selling patented medicines for an "excessive price" is illegal. The District government or any person affected by excessive prices may initiate legal action against a drug company if the wholesale price of a patented prescription drug in the District is over 30 percent higher than the same drug's price in Germany, Canada, Australia, or the United Kingdom. In court, the manufacturer must prove that the drug is not excessively priced given various costs of invention and development as well as profits to date. If the price of the drug is deemed excessive, civil penalties may be levied on the prescription drug-maker.
In recent weeks, Catania has met face-to-face with his colleagues about this bill and secured endorsements from the Metropolitan Washington Labor Council, the local service workers union, and a number of churches in the District of Columbia. Despite his willingness to do so, no representative of the drug industry sought the opportunity to discuss the issue and meaningful ways to address it.
Catania continued, "Today, the District of Columbia is one step closer to [fascism] securing reasonably priced prescription drugs for all of its residents and saving the government itself tens of millions of dollars. I'm proud of my colleagues and thankful to the many people who have joined in this fight."
Councilmember, At-Large
July 6, 2005 Press Release
By a vote of 13 to 0, the D.C. Council today approved groundbreaking legislation aimed at reigning in prescription drug prices. The bill, authored by Health Committee Chairman David Catania, makes it illegal to sell patented medicines for an "excessive price". Final consideration of the measure is expected in early September.
Bolstered by support from the labor and faith communities, Catania detailed drug companies' questionable business practices including selling pharmaceuticals at incredibly varied prices.
"Prices of the top 30 brand-name drugs increased by 22 percent over the past 3 years - more than 4 times the rate of inflation," Catania exasperatedly explained.
As the cost of prescriptions goes up, drug companies' profits soar. All the while, consumers are forced to consider whether they can afford life-preserving medicines.
Catania's attempt to combat soaring pharmaceutical costs has undergone change since initial approval in May. His bill declares that selling patented medicines for an "excessive price" is illegal. The District government or any person affected by excessive prices may initiate legal action against a drug company if the wholesale price of a patented prescription drug in the District is over 30 percent higher than the same drug's price in Germany, Canada, Australia, or the United Kingdom. In court, the manufacturer must prove that the drug is not excessively priced given various costs of invention and development as well as profits to date. If the price of the drug is deemed excessive, civil penalties may be levied on the prescription drug-maker.
In recent weeks, Catania has met face-to-face with his colleagues about this bill and secured endorsements from the Metropolitan Washington Labor Council, the local service workers union, and a number of churches in the District of Columbia. Despite his willingness to do so, no representative of the drug industry sought the opportunity to discuss the issue and meaningful ways to address it.
Catania continued, "Today, the District of Columbia is one step closer to [fascism] securing reasonably priced prescription drugs for all of its residents and saving the government itself tens of millions of dollars. I'm proud of my colleagues and thankful to the many people who have joined in this fight."
posted by The Libertarian Republican at 4:00 AM
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