Vermont governor signs price transparency bill

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin signed into law S. 216, a bill requiring drugmakers to justify wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) increases for some drugs.

Vermont's Green Mountain Care Board and Department of Vermont Health Access are to identify up to 15 drugs annually with WAC increases of more than 50% over five years, or 15% over 12 months, and for which the state "spends significant health care dollars." Those drugs' sponsors would have to justify the price hikes to the state's Attorney General. ...