What We're Reading: Tackling Opioid Addiction; Drug Price Increases Slow; Serving Medicaid Patients

California Bills to Address Opioid Addiction

Generics’ Impact on Drug Prices

Cityblock Receives Funding to Help Medicaid Patients

A California legislator has introduced new bills that hope to tackle opioid addiction by restricting access to the drugs. According to the Los Angeles Times, the 3 measures would build on the state database’s ability to track prescriptions and provide a clearer and more up-to-date picture of prescriptions. For instance, one of the measures would link the California database to other states in order to track doctor shopping across state lines.The availability of more generic alternatives and slowing price inflation are causing prescription medicines to become more affordable, according to CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance. The companies said their pharmacy revenues are taking a hit from those changes, reported The Wall Street Journal. However, the companies both expect profits to increase since generics have a higher margin than brand-name drugs.A healthcare company focused on serving low-income urban residents has received $20.8 million in first-round funding from investors that include J Mario Molina, MD, and a new investment firm formed by Andy Slavitt, the former acting administrator for CMS under President Barack Obama. According to Reuters, Cityblock’s goal is trying to make it easier for low-income individuals in urban areas to get personalized care, such as preventive visits and accessing appropriate social services, in order to avoid unnecessary emergency department visits and prevent larger healthcare crises.