Title: Oxley v. Myers
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: S48714
State: Oregon
Issuer: Oregon Supreme Court
Date: August 30, 2001

Filed: August 30, 2001
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON

GARY F. OXLEY,
	Petitioner,
	v.
HARDY MYERS,
Attorney General, State of Oregon,
	Respondent,
	and
TIM NESBITT,
	Intervenor.
(SC S48714, S48715, S48716)
(Consolidated for Argument and Opinion)

	On petitions to review ballot titles.
	Argued and submitted August 20, 2001.
	David H. Remes, pro hac vice, Washington, D.C., argued the
cause for petitioner.  With him on the petition were James N.
Gardner and Lynda N. Gardner, of Gardner &amp; Gardner, Portland.
	Erika L. Hadlock, Assistant Attorney General, Salem, argued
the cause for respondent.  With her on the answering memorandum
were Hardy Myers, Attorney General, and Michael D. Reynolds,
Solicitor General.
	Lynn-Marie Crider, Salem, filed an answering memorandum for
intervenor.
	Before Carson, Chief Justice, and Gillette, Durham, Leeson,
Riggs, and De Muniz, Justices.
	PER CURIAM
	Ballot titles certified.  This decision shall become
effective in accordance with ORAP 11.30(10).
		PER CURIAM
		These three ballot title review proceedings, which have
been consolidated for argument and opinion, are brought under ORS
250.085(2) and concern the Attorney General's certified ballot
titles for proposed initiative measures denominated by the
Secretary of State as Initiative Petitions 61, 62, and 63 (2002). 
Petitioner is an elector who timely submitted written comments to
the Secretary of State concerning the content of the Attorney
General's draft ballot title for each initiative measure and who
therefore is entitled to seek review in this court.  See ORS
250.085(2) (stating that requirement).  We review the Attorney
General's certified ballot titles to determine whether they are
in "substantial compliance" with the requirements of ORS
250.035(2)(a) to (d).  ORS 250.085(5). (1)
		Petitioner challenges all parts of each of the three
ballot titles that the Attorney General certified.  We have
considered each of petitioner's arguments and determine that none
is well taken.  Accordingly, we certify the following ballot
titles to the Secretary of State:
For Initiative Petition 61:
CREATES PROGRAM TO NEGOTIATE
PRESCRIPTION 
DRUG PRICES FOR
PARTICIPATING 
OREGONIANS;
CAPS 
RETAIL PRICES FOR PARTICIPANTS

		RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: "Yes" vote creates Oregon
Prescription Drug Cost Reduction Program to negotiate
prescription drug prices; program caps retail prices
that participating pharmacies can charge program
participants.
 	    RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: "No" vote rejects creation of
Oregon Prescription Drug Cost Reduction program to
negotiate prescription drug prices; rejects capping
prices that participating pharmacies charge program
participants.
	     SUMMARY: Creates Oregon Prescription Drug Cost
Reduction Program for Oregon residents who choose to
participate.  Program negotiates prescription drug
prices with manufacturers, with goal of reducing prices
to level comparable to "maximum net price that can be
charged by manufacturers to federal purchasers under
the federal supply service schedule."  Program sets
maximum retail prices that participating pharmacies can
charge program participants.  If program establishes a
preferred drug list, a participant may purchase a non-listed drug through the program if a treating physician
determines the listed drug will not satisfactorily
address the person's health needs.  Program coordinates
with health plan sponsors, insurers, others to provide
benefit of negotiated retail prices to participants in
their plans who also participate in program.  Program
participants pay administrative costs.  Other
provisions.
For Initiative Petition 62:
CREATES PROGRAM TO NEGOTIATE
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES;
CAPS RETAIL PRICES IF SPECIFIED
GOAL NOT REACHED     
		RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: "Yes" vote creates program
to negotiate prescription drug prices for participants;
caps retail drug prices if negotiated prices not
comparable to those charged federal purchasers.
	     RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: "No" vote rejects creation of
program to negotiate prescription drug prices; rejects
capping retail prices if negotiated prices not
comparable to those charged federal purchasers.
	     SUMMARY: Creates Prescription Drug Cost Reduction
Program for Oregonians choosing to participate. 
Program negotiates prescription drug prices with
manufacturers, with goal of reducing prices to level
comparable to "maximum net price that can be charged by
manufacturers to federal purchasers under the federal
supply service schedule [FSSS]."  Program caps retail
prices that participating pharmacies can charge program
participants.  Creates board to design program, adopt
implementing rules.  Board determines by 2005 whether
program drug prices are reasonably comparable to those
charged federal purchasers under FSSS, plus dispensing
fee.  If they are not, board caps retail prices for
"any or all" prescription drugs sold to anyone in
Oregon, taking into account drug prices and reasonable
costs of drug production, research and development,
distribution, marketing, administration, investment
return.  Other provisions.
For Initiative Petition 63:
CREATES PROGRAM TO PURCHASE,
DISTRIBUTE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
FOR STATE AGENCIES, 
OTHER 
PARTICIPANTS,
INCLUDING 
HEALTHCARE PLANS

	     RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: "Yes" vote creates program
to negotiate prescription drug prices, purchase drugs
in volume for state agencies and other participants,
including healthcare plans, employers and individuals.
	     RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: "No" vote rejects creating
program to negotiate prescription drug prices, purchase
drugs in volume for state agencies and other
participants, including healthcare plans, employers,
individuals.
	     SUMMARY: Creates Oregon Prescription Drug Discount
Purchasing Program.  The program negotiates prices of
prescription drugs with manufacturers and purchases
prescription drugs in volume for state agencies that
dispense prescription drugs to patients.  Program also
purchases prescription drugs for other drug purchasers
that choose to participate, including the Public
Employee Benefits Board, Oregon Health Plan, cities,
counties, school districts, employers, labor
organizations, healthcare plan sponsors, healthcare
providers, and individuals.  Program distributes
prescription drugs, using existing wholesalers and
retail pharmacies if that provides good consumer
service and is cost-effective.  Once implemented,
program is self-financing, with participants paying
administrative costs.  Measure creates board to design
program and adopt implementing rules.  Board analyzes
prescription drug costs, makes recommendations for
further action to make prescription drugs accessible
and affordable.  Other provisions.
		Ballot titles certified.  This decision shall become
effective in accordance with ORAP 11.30(10).


1. 	The 2001 Legislative Assembly amended ORS 250.085 in a
respect not relevant to this proceeding.