NH reps want to get tough with drug manufacturers May 15, 2010

NH reps want to get tough with drug manufacturers

Boston Globe

May 15, 2010

 "The lead petitioner, Rep. Al Baldasaro, R-Londonderry, said last week that he is happy with Ayotte’s progress, but he wants continued action."

"Each year, New Hampshire and the federal government split the cost of Medicaid, which helps pay for health care for the needy, aged and disabled, as well as low-income families with children.
What first caught Baldasaro's attention was a huge increase in state spending on newer antipsychotic drugs for children almost $4 million last year, up from less than $300,000 in 2000.
"What got me going is how much money we are spending on Medicaid dollars to drug our kids, and on prescriptions that are designed for adults and not tested for use by children," he said.
When Baldasaro and other officials saw other states taking drug manufacturers to court to recover money wrongfully collected from them, the legislators wanted New Hampshire to follow suit. Their petition asked Ayotte to sue Bristol-Myers Squibb, manufacturer of Abilify, and Eli Lilly, manufacturer of Zyprexa. Both drugs are prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder."