Prescription drug costs easier to swallow.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS

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Until just recently, the growth of prescription drug costs appeared to be slowing down. In January 2009, a federally sponsored study calculated the annual growth of prescription drug spending at 4.6 percent, lower than any other major health care sector and the lowest level in 45 years. In a surprising reversal, however, an analysis published in November 2009 showed that medication prices were rising about 9 percent by the end of 2009.

Last year, lawmakers were once again busy addressing prescription drug laws, with 84 new measures enacted in 32 states. For the first time in a decade, however, there was little activity aimed at expanding state subsidies or discount programs for those lacking prescription drug coverage or insurance.

Eight states tightened regulations on pharmaceutical benefit managers and addressed issues of marketing drugs and privacy of prescription records. Nine states passed laws about the reuse and redistribution of unused medicines. And eight states changed their laws on Medicaid pharmaceuticals. For example, Texas barred conflicts of interests for members of their Medicaid drug review board who also have contracts with manufacturers. Utah Medicaid required more advance documentation of the medical need for drugs judged "non-preferred." North Dakota regulated Internet pharmaceutical sales by requiring a face-to-face visit with a prescriber.

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