Reform

Urgent Call for Reform: How Pharmacy Benefit Managers Contribute to Prescription Unaffordability and What States Are Doing About It

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In the United States, the escalating cost of prescription drugs is forcing many to sacrifice essential medications, despite systems in place meant to safeguard affordable access. A crucial player in this scenario is the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), whose role in the healthcare system is pivotal yet fraught with critical issues that need immediate address. PBMs, operating primarily as intermediaries between drug manufacturers and healthcare plans, dictate the availability and price of medications through formularies they control. They negotiate deals with drugmakers and manage pharmacy benefits for various employers and government-initiated health plans like Medicare … Read more

San Diego County Settles for $15 Million in Jail Death Lawsuit, Promises Reform After Tragic Loss of Pregnant Woman

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San Diego, CA – San Diego County and its private healthcare contractor have settled for $15 million in a lawsuit following the death of Elisa Serna, a 24-year-old pregnant woman who died in custody at Las Colinas jail nearly five years ago. The settlement comes just weeks before the case was scheduled to be heard by a federal jury. Serna tragically lost her life after collapsing in her cell, a distressing event that was witnessed by a sheriff’s deputy and a medical worker who subsequently left her unattended. This forthcoming payment marks the largest wrongful-death … Read more

Minnesota Legislature Takes Action to Reform Property Forfeiture Laws in Response to Supreme Court Ruling

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St. Paul, Minnesota – The Minnesota Legislature is poised to pass new property forfeiture laws in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that declared the state’s current system unconstitutional. The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in the case of Tyler v. Hennepin County found that the county violated a woman’s constitutional rights by selling her forfeited property for more than the amount she owed in taxes and keeping the surplus. Earlier this year, the state agreed to pay a settlement of $109 million to resolve class action lawsuits filed on behalf of Minnesotans … Read more

Proposed Bill Seeks to Protect Law Enforcement at State Universities and Reform Officer Misconduct Investigations

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DES MOINES, Iowa — Law enforcement protections at state universities in Iowa could see significant changes if a newly passed bill becomes law. The bill, known as House Study Bill 738, aims to prevent state universities from implementing policies that restrict police from enforcing local, state, or municipal laws. It also proposes that the attorney general investigate complaints against universities for potential violations. Under the bill, state universities found by civil court to have intentionally discouraged or barred law enforcement from enforcing laws would be denied state funds for the fiscal year in which the … Read more