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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2018
Governor signs drug price transparency bill
By PARIS ACHEN
Capital Bureau
Gov. Kate Brown has signed
into law a bill that requires
pharmaceutical manufacturers
to publicly disclose reasons for
steep increases in drug prices.
Several other states, includ-
ing California, have taken sim-
ilar measures as the prices of
drugs have skyrocketed with-
out an apparent reason.
House Bill 4005 won bipar-
tisan sponsorship and over-
whelming support in both the
state House and Senate.
“Every Oregonian should
be able to access the medica-
tions and treatments that allow
them to live healthy, productive
lives,” Brown said in a state-
ment Tuesday. “This bill brings
greater transparency around
drug pricing, an important step
towards making lifesaving and
essential drugs more available
and affordable.”
When the price of a prescrip-
tion drug increases greater than
10 percent, the bill requires the
manufacturer to report the rea-
sons to the Oregon Department
of Consumer and Business
Services, including informa-
tion related to the cost of pro-
duction, advertising, marketing
and research. The manufacturer
also must disclose their prof-
its from the drug and whether
generic alternatives are avail-
able. Manufacturers face civil
penalties of up to $10,000 per
day for noncompliance.
The deadline for the first
report is July 1, 2019.
Under the new law, the con-
sumer services department is
required to publicly post a list
of the drugs that have had high
price increases, hold annual
public meetings about prescrip-
tion drug prices and make rec-
ommendations to the state Leg-
islature for additional measures
to curb drug prices.
Insurance companies also
are required to report the 25
most expensive prescription
drugs in their plans, which
ones have increased the most
and how those costs affect
premiums.
With federal inaction on
drug prices, several other states
have enacted laws to moni-
tor drug prices and enhance
transparency around pricing.
Among them are California,
Maryland, Nevada, New York
and Vermont, according to a
report by the Washington Post.
About a dozen other state
legislatures are considering
or debating variations of drug
transparency measures, accord-
ing to the website Policy and
Medicine.
Between 2013 and 2015,
national spending on prescrip-
tion drugs increased by about
20 percent and accounted for
an estimated 17 percent of
health care spending, accord-
ing to researched published in
the Journal of the American
Medical Association.
Unlike most industrial
countries, the United States
does not negotiate the price of
prescription drugs with man-
ufacturers. As a result, Ameri-
cans pay more for most drugs.
“Too many people in our
community are making hard
choices between paying for
medications or food and rent,”
said Vida resident Nancy Ple-
mons, a patient who testified
in support of the Oregon bill.
“Patients like me appreciate
the support of Gov. Brown and
lawmakers from both sides of
the aisle who worked so hard
to get this bill passed for Ore-
gonians who are grappling with
the ever-increasing price of
prescription drugs.”
The bill was sponsored by
state Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Port-
land, Rep. Ron Noble, R-Mc-
Minnville, Sen. Dennis Lin-
thicum, R-Klamath Falls, and
Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfield.
Consult a
Endowment: ‘We just want to help’ PROFESSIONAL
Continued from Page 1A
Endowment funds are
investments used by universi-
ties, nonprofits, churches, hos-
pitals and other groups to
support operations. Groups
commonly spend the interest
earned from the investments,
leaving the capital in perpetuity.
CMH Auxiliary, a service
group formed more than 60
years ago to support the hos-
pital, donated a $500,000 life
insurance policy to start the
endowment campaign. The
policy will be written to a what the auxiliary does.
younger physician at the hospi-
“It’s the future of our health
tal, and the auxiliary group will care,” Gibson said of the
pay the premiums.
endowment.
The auxiliary group
“The more money
has also promised to
you have in the endow-
ment, the more you
contribute $500,000 in
can fund the future,”
$50,000 annual pay-
ments once the foun-
Cowden said.
dation raises $4 mil-
Auxiliary volun-
teers staff lobbies at
lion from other donors.
Terri
Terri Gibson, head
the hospital to direct
Gibson
of the auxiliary group,
visitors to their friends
said it is hoping to sup-
and family and run a
port the hospital’s mission and gift shop. The group provides
bring more awareness about baby baskets, blanket warm-
ers, specialty chairs, children’s
activity bags, exercise equip-
ment, cough pillows for sur-
gery patients and scholarships
for Clatsop Community Col-
lege nursing students.
Between 2008 to 2015, the
auxiliary bought more than
$100,000 in specialty equip-
ment for the hospital. In 2015,
the group donated $25,000 to
the capital campaign for the
Knight Cancer Collaborative.
“We have a servant atti-
tude,” Gibson said. “We just
want to help.”
Ilwaco: ‘There’s no silver bullet here’
Continued from Page 1A
The New Pacific Hard-
woods mill in Raymond’s Port
of Willapa Harbor closed in
2017. Now, the state plans to
invest $1.5 million to retrofit
and reopen the alder sawmill.
During the first phase of the
project, the state will provide
$553,000 to help with startup
costs, $500,000 for a new
small log system and $345,000
to debt-secure the mill.
In the second phase, the
state will provide a $100,000
grant to help port officials and
the Evergreen State College
Center for Sustainable Infra-
structure research the possibil-
ity of starting an energy inno-
vation district.
“Essentially, an energy
innovation district allows com-
panies to reduce energy costs
and energy waste by sharing
energy,” Department of Nat-
ural Resources spokesman
Carlo Davis explained. The
facilities can also help com-
panies find ways to use one
another’s waste streams to cre-
ate new products.
“Clustering related indus-
try together makes this sharing
possible,” he said.
The Department of Nat-
ural Resources estimates the
mill, which is slated to open in
2019, could make about $9.5
million in log purchases annu-
ally. It would create about 49
jobs and around $2.1 million
in wages and generate $98,000
in taxes annually, according to
state estimates.
ral Resources, which manages
a significant amount of acre-
age in Willapa Bay, identify
unused tidelands that could be
made available to affected oys-
ter farmers.
Most of the money —
$950,000 — comes from the
state Legislature’s supplemen-
tal budget. The Department of
Natural Resources is contrib-
uting $65,000 and the Depart-
ment of Agriculture is chip-
ping in $50,000. The work will
be carried out by state staff and
the University of Washington
Sea Grant research program
with assistance from local oys-
ter growers.
“There’s no silver bullet
here,” Franz said in a press
release. “It’s a mucky situation
but, as the manager of signif-
icant tidelands in the area and
a landlord for many lessees,
we’re wading in. We’ve got to
explore all options — there are
too many livelihoods at risk
and communities on the brink
not to.”
Ken Wiegardt, president
Shipbreaking in Ilwaco
By 2020, the Port of Ilwaco
could be home to a new ship-
breaking facility that would
specialize in dismantling and
disposing of derelict vessels.
In the recently-approved sup-
plemental budget, the Legis-
lature committed $950,000 for
the derelict vessel facility and
other work in the port. The
investment includes $600,000
M ARCH 29
for building an enclosed decon-
struction facility, $250,000 to
replace the port’s stormwater
system and $100,000 for pav-
ing and regrading work that
will help protect water quality.
According to Port Man-
ager Guy Glenn Jr., the port
is in talks with a private part-
ner, West Coast Vessel Recy-
cling, LLC. The state Depart-
ment of Ecology, Washington
Public Ports Association and
the Association of Washing-
ton Cities’ Center for Quality
Communities would also be
involved in the project.
According to the Depart-
ment of Natural Resources,
there are around 150 vessels in
the state that are candidates for
recycling. The facility would
create an estimated 15 jobs.
Franz said the state has a
“tremendous” problem with
derelict boats. The new facility,
she said, would be an exam-
ple of “taking a challenge and
turning it into an opportunity”
that would benefit the local
economy and the environment.
have cavities. Why
should they be filled if
they are just going to
fall out in a few years?
JEFFREY M. LEINASSAR
DMD, FAGD
503/325-0310
1414 MARINE DRIVE,
ASTORIA
www.smileastoria.com
Dr. Robert Pyle
the development of the dental jaw and
forming permanent teeth. Baby teeth
not only give the child chewing function,
cute esthetics, but also serve an import-
ant role in the jaw formation. Premature
loss of primary teeth can adversely affect
the jaw growth, position and timing of
the eruption of permanent teeth, and if
badly decayed or infected be a source
of pain, sickness, and risk to other teeth.
Please have your dentist evaluate your
child’s “baby teeth”.
have a Medicare
Q: I Supplement
plan but do
not take any prescription
medications. Do I need
to purchase a Part D
prescription plan?
Steve Putman
Medicare Products
503-440-1076
Licensed in Oregon
and Washington
putmanagency@gmail.com
as a Medicare recipient you
A: Yes,
are required to have creditable
prescription drug coverage whether
you take prescriptions or not, unless
you have a prescription plan from some
other source such as an employer plan.
If you go more than 63 consecutive
days after becoming eligible for Medi-
care without a plan, you may have to
pay a penalty on top of any premium.
Call me for more information.
can I share work
Q: How
(time cards, photos,
documents) with people
in various locations?
LEO FINZI
Astorias A: Dropbox, Microsoft (OneDrive)
Google let you to share and edit
Best.com and
files anywhere with internet access.
Dropbox - 2 GB is free, 1 TB is $99/
yr. Unlimited is $199/yr.
M-F 10-6 Sat . 11-4
77 11th Street, Suite H
Astoria, OR
503-325-2300
yr.* 5 TB is $99/yr.**
Includes Word, Excel & Power Point
for * 1 computer or ** 5 computers.
Q: Are chiropractors
real doctors?
A Columbia Forum Presentation
One of the Pacifi c Northwest’s most acclaimed
nature writers, Dr. Robert Michael Pyle of Grays
River, Washington, is a lighthearted, insightful and
amusing speaker on topics ranging from Bigfoot to
butterfl ies. He literally wrote the book on both topics,
and is the author of “The Butterfl ies of Cascadia,” the
comprehensive fi eld guide to all the species of Oregon
and Washington.
A graduate of the Yale School of Forestry &
Environmental Studies, Pyle’s 1987 book, “Wintergreen” won the John Burroughs
Medal for its insights about how industrial forestry damaged the land,
waters and people of the Willapa Hills of Southwest Washington. He and his
Wahkiakum County neighbor Krist Novoselic, co-founder of the legendary rock
group Nirvana, are currently collaborating on a mélange of acoustic guitar music
and poetry.
TO ATTEND:
teeth are very import-
A: Children’s
ant to the health of the child and
G ot a question ? Google - 15 GB is free, 100 GB is
W e are Glad $20/yr. 1 TB is $99/yr.
to help .
Microsoft - 5GB is free, 1 TB is $69/
TH
Acclaimed Nature Writer
‘Ghost shrimp’
An estimated 25 percent of
all U.S. oysters are grown in
the region, making the shellfish
industry a critical part of the
local economy. However, the
continued proliferation of bur-
rowing shrimp — often called
“ghost shrimp” — is rapidly
turning prime oyster-growing
land into a muddy wasteland.
The shrimp soften the ground,
making it impossible for oys-
ters to grow.
The Washington Depart-
ment of Ecology has been con-
sidering whether to let oyster
growers spray the shrimp with
pesticide, but have been widely
expected to decline to issue a
permit. The prospect this could
begin putting Willapa oyster
operations out of business set
off a behind-the-scenes scram-
ble at the just-concluded leg-
islative session to find viable
alternatives to spraying.
Shellfish growers and
researchers have already tried
dozens of strategies for check-
ing shrimp populations with
little success.
Starting this year, the $1
million investment will pay for
research on new shrimp-con-
trol techniques. It will also
help the Department of Natu-
of the Willapa Grays Har-
bor Oyster Growers Associ-
ation, expressed appreciation
for the state’s new emphasis on
helping.
“The shellfish industry is
the largest private employer
in rural Pacific County,” Wie-
gardt said. “Dramatic increases
in burrowing shrimp popula-
tions threaten the environment
and economies in southwest
Washington. This new partner-
ship has the potential to bene-
fit the many residents of Grays
Harbor and Pacific County
whose livelihoods depend on
these jobs.”
Q: My child’s baby teeth
like all other doctors,
A: Yes,
we undergo four years of
ASTORIA
CHIROPRACTIC
Barry Sears, D.C.
503-325-3311
2935 Marine Drive
Astoria, Oregon
Q: I’m going out of
LIMI
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RESER ING
V
For Members: Dinner & Lecture: $25 each; Lecture only: no charge
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members and guests of the audience take their seats.
Forum to be held at the CMH Community Center at 2021 Exchange St., Astoria.
ColumbiaForum
town and need to
stop my paper.
what are my
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D AILY
A STORIAN
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graduate school including two
years of life science and 2 years
of clinical sciences with an
internship. The degree conferred
after successful completion of
schooling is a D.C. or DOCTOR
OF CHIROPRACTIC. We are
also called chiropractic
physicians. Yearly continuing
education is required to keep
skills up. Our approach is to find
the simplest solution with the
fewest tests. We are happy to
accept new patients.
949 E XCHANGE S TREET
A STORIA
503-325-3211
WWW . DAILYASTORIAN . COM
are two options for
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of town. First, we can save
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and deliver them when you
return, or we can switch you
to a Web subscription while
you are away and you can read
the paper online. Whichever
option fi ts your needs, just call
us at 503-325-3211 and we
will take care of it for you.