Lawmakers in Washington state are considering legislation that would give a governor-appointed board extra authority to curtail the price of high-cost prescription medications.
Proponents say the legislation will increase access to medicines, but industry leaders and some patient groups say it will quash innovation and may curtail availability of some drugs for state residents.
The bill “really sends a question mark as to whether or not the state is committed to the industry and understands how it works,” said Marc Cummings, CEO of the trade group Life Science Washington, who signed a letter to lawmakers along with state biotech leaders urging lawmakers to reject the bill.
The new bill (HB 1269) goes beyond a drug pricing law passed last year in the state.