A bill intended to combat the opioid crisis in Minnesota is headed to the Senate floor for a vote after clearing the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday.
Republican Senator Julie Rosen's bill would impose $20 million in annual registration fees on pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, and, she says, do much more.
RELATED: Employers, Health Dept create 'opioid tool kit'
"There are prescribing guidelines for our doctors so there's no more doctor shopping," she said. "There is how to dispose of unwanted prescriptions. There is treatment protocol. There is money for treatment protocols that are already in place and doing great work that need some help to get out of the red. There's money in there for our Greater Minnesota undercover drug agents."
Drug industry representatives say the bill amounts to a punitive tax on drug makers and distributors, that could result in higher health care costs and decrease access to treatments, but supporters say it holds pharmaceutical companies accountable.
