By Bob Katzen

The Senate 38-0, approved an amendment to a section of a drug price reform bill.

A section of the bill gives the state’s Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA’s) the option to fine pharmaceutical companies up to $2,000 per week if they do not submit drug pricing data by a certain deadline. The amendment would require CHIA to fine the companies.

“For far too long, the pharmaceutical industry has exploited taxpayers, patients and the government through insidious lobbying tactics that have prevented any meaningful price control for decades,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford). “The industry has fought every common-sense cost-saving policy I have sponsored for over 20 years, ranging from bulk purchasing to simple price transparency.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.)

Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes