Drugmakers won’t be happy about this. The House of Representatives voted 257-93 to establish the New Hampshire Prescription Drug Program, which is supposed to help uninsured residents by having the state negotiate discounts with pharmaceutical companies.

“Prescription drugs costs have risen by 74 percent in the last five years, and will grow by almost another 50 percent by 2010,” says John DeJoie, a prime sponsor of the bill. “With this legislation, the working families of New Hampshire can finally receive some price relief from the rising costs of prescription drugs.”

“Often, those individuals who are lower income cannot afford their medicine at all if they don’t qualify for industry assistance programs, or their medications are not available through those programs,” said Cindy Rosenwald, who chairs the health, human services and elderly afffairs committee. “We are convinced that asking people who can least afford it to pay the highest cost of medicine is neither prudent nor fair.” The bill now goes to the House Finance Committee.

New Hampshire’s new state motto: Negotiate Freely Or Die[tags]New Hampshire, Prices[/tags]