Senate Panel Sinks Pharm Bill

The Associated Press reports on Wednesday's action by the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee dooming legislation that aimed to revamp drug price negotiation efforts.

The Senate committee rejected the House-passed measure, a heavily-amended version of Gov. Joe Manchin's original bill, and ignored a proposed compromise version drafted with the help of administration officials.

As the AP's Tom Breen writes, "The bill was backed by a coalition of labor unions, church organizations and senior citizens groups. Opponents of the measure included not only the pharmaceutical industry, but other groups worried the measure would backfire. Representatives of the drug manufacturers said that companies might have passed on the costs of complying with the new requirements to consumers."

With the session continuing until midnight Saturday, bill supporters are also adopting a never-say-die attitude.

The (Beckley) Register-Herald also covered the bill's (apparent) demise, as did The Charleston Gazette.