Industry

Big Pharma Fattening Coffers to Stop Drug Price Reduction Initiative

Big Pharma fears only one thing: a government regulator who will push back on drug prices and protect consumers. Its fears could be realized in a year if an initiative intended to lower drug prices is approved by voters, which is why the drug companies have already filled a campaign war chest with nearly $40 million.
 

As Covered California Enrollment Continues, Don't Get Scrooged

Consumers are currently in the process of enrolling in new health coverage or switching plans for 2016, so Consumer Watchdog has offered tips to help avoid pitfalls and urged them to report any problems to Consumer Watchdog on the group’s consumer complaint page by clicking on this link.
 
Top challenges to look out for: 
 

Kaiser Permanente, Example of California's Mental Health Crisis

Kaiser Permanente won't be using testimony from this week's state Senate hearing on mental health services in any of its $50 million advertising plans next year. If it did, it would have to change its "Thrive" campaign to a "Withering" campaign. 

Capitol Watchdog: Upcoming Meetings to Watch

Is the tide turning against the oil industry when it comes to gas price manipulation? We might find out this week. Also, California's woeful support of mental health access will be aired, and possible solutions. Those and other meetings will be held, including topics such as closing the English learner gap, the rural digital divide and why do pipeline accidents persist? 

CA Head of Oil and Gas Division Resigning; Clueless About Brown Mapgate

The head of the state's oil and gas oversight agency is leaving, and he still doesn't understand why Gov. Jerry Brown shouldn't have used state workers for private business. 

Oil & Gas Supervisor Steve Bohlen at California’s Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) is resigning and returning to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

What's Behind the Curtain as Kamala Harris Decides Hospital Sale?

Why would a hedge fund, with little healthcare experience, commit $100 million in capital and provide a $150 million loan, with interest, to a dying hospital system?  That's the question Attorney General Kamala Harris needs to answer correctly or thousands of jobs will evaporate and critical healthcare access for many residents will vanish.

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