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A Danville man whose two children were killed in a 2003 auto accident has been given the go-ahead to begin circulating a ballot measure that would tax prescription drugs sold in California. Revenue raised by the measure would support the state electronic prescription tracking database.
The measure, to be added to the November 2012 ballot, would require drug manufacturers and importers to pay a one-quarter cent tax on each pill prescribed in California. Revenues raised would go toward maintaining the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES), a database that tracks patient prescription history in an effort to reduce the illegal sale and abuse of prescription drugs. Established in 2009, CURES has been all but devastated by state budget cuts.
“If this program had been active and going back in 2003, I think there’s a really good chance that the woman who hit my children wouldn’t have gotten all the prescriptions that she did,” Robert Pack said of Jimena Barreto, who was high on prescription painkillers when she killed Troy, 10, and Alana, 7, in October 2003.
According to documents from the California Legislative Analysts Office, the quarter-cent fee would generate approximately $7 million annually that could be put toward expanding the CURES program – which is only used by 3 percent of licensed medical professionals.
“Many doctors and pharmacists rely heavily daily on the CURES program, so this is critical to their role in making sure they’re prescribing safely,” Pack said. “Right now there’s about 6,000 doctors and pharmacists enrolled…it’s not very many but it’s critical and it’s growing and there should be many more.”
In 2005, Barreto was convicted to two counts of second-degree murder and is serving 30 years to life in state penitentiary. Through a nonprofit foundation named for his children, Pack spearheaded a bill to the same effect with state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord), but the bill never got out of the Senate Health Committee in 2010. According to reports, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America argued that tracking drugs for criminal investigations is a law enforcement and regulatory function outside the industry’s purview.
“I feel that they’re benefiting by the fraudulent abuse of narcotics to the tune of several $ 100 million a year from California, yet they’re no t giving anything back to solve the problem,” Pack said of the pharmaceutical industry, adding that the Senate bill didn’t pass due to political infighting. “I think they have a real moral and ethical obligation to see that their narcotic drugs are being prescribed in a safe matter.”
Pack now has until April 19, 2012 to gather signatures from 504,760 registered voters to qualify the measure for the ballot. If passed, the tax would begin on Jan. 1, 2013 and continue for three years. He said he is working with an informal coalition of supporters from the Attorney General’s Office, state law enforcement, nurses and medical groups to get the word out.
“I’ve got plenty of years to try to find the proper solution to this. If the ballot measure doesn’t pass I’ll continue to look for other means to try to fund the CURES program. I think it’s a really good solution and we’re going to try really hard to make it possible,” Pack said.
just tell me where to sign!
What happened was a tragedy… but raising taxes isn’t the answer. If people choose to get impaired by drinking too much, smoking dope, or taking too many prescription pain killers, no new tax and data base is going to help. Sorry.
The federal government has declared pot to be illegal. <irony on> This is why you never hear about anyone smoking pot, or growing it, or selling it <irony off>.
George is correct. Laws will not make the slightest difference.
Yes, Yes George is correct. The death of the children was horrible, but move on and stop wanting to be a headliner. New taxes is not the answer.Money is not the ultimate solution.
Thank you Julia from Alamo
What happened was truly tragic! BUT creating a new tax which will only fund a new bureaucracy and raise the cost of prescription drugs to those who need them will not solve anything!
I have known people who go to several different Doctors at the same time for pain killers and sedative prescriptions. Drug abuse is a terrible thing. Kaiser does have such a database for their patients, but only if their prescriptions are all filled at one of their facilities. That said, if such a tax is passed, Big Pharma will pass the cost to the consumer. Many people already cannnot afford the medication they need.
There must be a solution to fund this database. I’m just not sure this is it.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
I am so sorry for their loss, but invading the privacy of millions of responsible prescription drug users is not going to prevent drug abuse.
I remember that tragic day vividly and feel horrible for Bob and Carmen Pack, but all the posts against this idea are correct. There are too many people on daily prescriptions for things like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc. that would ultimately be paying for this idea. The drug companies would obviously pass this cost on to patients, many of whom already pay too much for the prescriptions they absolutely need to stay healthy.
I do not believe in any way that Bob Pack is trying to grab headlines with this idea. He is just a father who is still trying to cope with the loss of his children and make a difference so others never have to experience the loss he did, but this is not the way to do it.
I agree that the CURES program is unique and really helpful, but like my neighbors I think an across the board tax on prescription drugs is not a fair way to go. I do thank the Pack family though, for trying so hard to make a change that will ultimately benefit others.
Julia, once again your position is insensitive. The Pack family has never wanted to grab headlines, and your advice to “move on” following the deaths of their two young children just demonstrates your complete lack of understanding and empathy. I can’t imagine living with their experience, and I have a great appreciation for their efforts on behalf of other families.
really julia?????? are you that miserable???
really?????
Headliner?????? WOW
Where do we sign this petition?
As said many times above, it was a terrible tragedy. But speaking for someone soon to be in the ‘donut hole” as it relates to prescription medication, a further cost on my necessary drugs would mean that I could NOT afford them, thus creating a tragedy for my family, should I not be able to take them. Please reconsider this proposal and understand its impact on seniors.
Before everyone jumps on the “no more taxes,” “don’t make prescriptions more expensive,” or “privacy” bandwagons, we should all understand the legislation. The law would not tax ALL prescriptions–only Schedule 2-4 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. The idea seems to be to address those medications that have a higher likelihood of addiction or causing impairment. Additionally, HIPAA and all confidentiality and disclosure provisions of California Law cover the information and the database is protected by imposing civil or criminal penalties for any misuse or inappropriate accessing of patient data.
Julia-Your insensitivity and myopic view of the world are sadly all too common these days. Try informing yourself on issues before espousing your self-interested, narrow-minded opinions.
Get Informed –
Have you actually looked at what are considered Schedule 2-4 drugs? Apparently not as you want the parents of children who have ADHD to pay more along with cancer survivors who need to be able to manage their pain and many others who fall into these kinds of categories. Again, it is a BAD idea and needs to be squashed!!
Maybe there needs to be a database on all those who buy alcohol…because, I mean, they might get “addicted”, misuse it, and drive badly killing children.
So control and regulate it the heck out it (and other things)! That’s always the answer. Bigger and broader Government is the solution.
And how about a database on coffee purchasers…(too much coffee must be bad for something/someone).
And a database on twinkie purchasers…(those things can cause sugar-induced murder).
And ……..
How to pay for the cost of the database (and all the new employees needed to maintain and enforce it)? Just add a tax or “fee” to the product!
Oh, and the databases will “create” jobs…..and thereby cure the economy. Yeah, right.
Well, some politician will like the idea of more laws and more government….so it will probably get done.
PS-
We’re all sorry about the deaths.
But no one should be signing sign a petition just out of emotional sympathy and kindness for the victims/parents.
You’ve got to think about and believe in the petition’s content separate from the local emotions.
FanDanville is right! They’re always right! They’re right alright!
Thank you…Diane and Alyson for reading and listening, I appreciate your opinion even though you enjoy throwing rocks at mine.
Just think if we all thought the same…
Again, thanks for listening, Julia Pardini from Alamo
Creating another bureacracy is not the answer. Once the intitial money runs out it becomes just another agency sucking at the public trough!
Can’t afford needed drugs if this tax is imposed? REALLY? Did you read the story or are you just having a kneejerk reaction to the word “tax”?
I seriously doubt that a quarter cent tax per pill will make anyone’s drugs fall into the unaffordable category. Let’s see – 30 x .25 = a whopping seven-and-a-half cents for a 30 day supply.
Is your budget that tight? If so, you should discontinue your Internet service.
If the answer is another tax, you’re asking the wrong question.