Schumer Bill Would Make Price Gouging On Prescription Medications A Federal Crime.

The AP  (12/7, Johnson) reports that a new bill Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) is proposing "would give the US Department of Justice authority to crack down on 'unscrupulous drug distributors' who sell hospitals life-saving prescription medicines in short supply at huge markups." An executive order signed by President Obama on Oct. 31 instructed "the Food and Drug Administration to broaden its reporting of potential drug shortages, speed up reviews of proposed production changes for drugs facing shortages, and give the Justice Department more information about possible collusion or price gouging." Another bill, "which would require manufacturers to notify the FDA immediately of impending shortages of key drugs," was "introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar...and recently was endorsed by the American Medical Association."