California is about to drop the mic on pharmaceutical shenanigans, and Governor Gavin Newsom is leading the charge. In a move that’s part healthcare revolution, part political badassery, Newsom’s latest budget proposal is set to shake up the prescription drug landscape and protect reproductive rights.

Pharmacy Benefit Managers: The Sneaky Middlemen

Imagine a world where mysterious middlemen can jack up your drug prices without any accountability. That’s been the pharmaceutical playground until now. Newsom’s plan targets Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), those behind-the-scenes operators who’ve been playing financial hide-and-seek with drug pricing.

Under the new proposal, these PBMs will finally be forced into the spotlight. They’ll need to get licensed, report financial details, and actually have a “fiduciary duty” to clients. Translation? No more secret price inflation games.

CalRx: A Superhero for Medication Access

Newsom isn’t just stopping at transparency. He’s expanding CalRx’s authority to purchase brand-name drugs, creating a state-level defense against potential medication shortages or politically motivated restrictions. This is especially critical for reproductive health medications like mifepristone, which have been under attack in conservative states.

The goal? Ensure Californians can access essential medications without worrying about supply chain disruptions or ideological interference. It’s like a pharmaceutical force field protecting public health.

With this budget revision, Newsom is sending a clear message: In California, we protect healthcare access and we’re not afraid to call out corporate greed. Pharmaceutical middlemen, consider yourself served.