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Please join Senator Johnny Ellis and special guest Representative Eric Croft this Friday at 4:30 pm for the "Demo Memo" on KUDO radio 1080 AM. This is a weekly segment on The Aaron Selbig Show, KUDO 1080's local progressive voice, a chance for Senator Ellis and a special guest to do the week in review...what happened in Juneau, what's going on next week, what bills are moving and so on. The Demo Memo is only broadcast in Anchorage at this point, but we hope it will be available statewide soon.

Guttenberg Calls for Action on Prescription Drugs

Sen. Gretchen Guess       Representative David Guttenberg (D-Fairbanks) has introduced a package of bills (House Bills 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458) in an effort to address the rising costs of prescription drugs as well as provide consumers greater awareness of clinical drug trials, pharmaceutical advertising and marketing, and drug companies' expenses in promoting their products to doctors.

       "Pharmaceuticals are the fastest growing segment of Alaskans' rising health care costs," Guttenberg said. "Many people are forced to choose between necessary medications and putting food on their tables. That's a choice no Alaskan should have to make."

       On average, Americans consume about 3 billion prescriptions per year. Between 1995 and 2002, the average increase for drug expenditures was 15 percent higher than for any other type of health expenditure. Prescription drug costs increased at more than three times the rate of inflation from Jan. 2003 and to Jan. 2004, while the pharmaceutical industry continues to be the most profitable industry in the United States.

       Among Guttenberg's package of bills is HB 452, which creates the Alaska Prescription Drug Task Force, and requires the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services to investigate ways to both reduce the cost of prescription drugs and increase affordable access to prescription drugs to Alaska residents. Among the measures suggested for immediate review are participation in bulk purchasing programs, increased usage of generic drugs and rebate programs.

       House Bills 452, 453, and 455 await hearings in the House Heath, Education and Social Services Committee. House bills 454, 456, 457, and 458 are in House Labor and Commerce.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, March 4th - The Anchorage Caucus will hold a public meeting at the Cuddy Dining Center at UAA. The agenda includes presentations by representatives of the Municipality of Anchorage – Office of the Mayor, Anchorage Assembly, Port of Anchorage, Anchorage School District, UAA , Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, South Anchorage Sports Dome, Muldoon Youth Facility – Volunteers of America and Glenn-Seward Highway connection project.

There will be an opportunity for public comments following the presentations.

For more information, please call 465-4976.