Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Former VA Official Defends Drug Price Ballot Issue

Adul10/SHUTTERSTOCK

A doctor is breaking away from Ohio’s largest medical groups to support a proposed law that would force the state to buy drugs at a lower price. Statehouse correspondent Andy Chow reports.

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs buys drugs with a large discount. A ballot issue this November would force the state to buy drugs at that same low price or not at all.

All of Ohio’s major health care groups including the nurses and medical association are against the idea.

But Robert Ruff, a former director with the VA, says that’s because the health care industry has become a business operation.

“People are making a lot of money in the health care business right now and I think CEOs and people in power in the industry are of the mind that they don’t want that situation to change.”

The group opposing the ballot issue says it would make costs go up for people who don’t get medication through state programs and limit access for those who do.

Contact Andy at achow@statehousenews.org.
Related Content