The key findings outlined in this report were drawn from a telephone survey of 1,023 California adults conducted August 4-9, 2017. A complete description of the methodology and demographics of the sample are at the end of this summary.
Overall Summary
Despite few people knowing anything about SB17, a majority initially support the proposed legislation, largely because there is a perceived need to do something to slow increases in health care costs. At the same time, people recognize that generics are not the issue when it comes to those health care costs. In fact, consumers feel that generics are reasonably priced, in contrast to brand medications, which are perceived to be unreasonably priced.
When presented with statements about the potential impacts SB17 would have on generic drug makers and therefore the patients who rely on generic medications, a substantial number of those initial supporters would no longer support the bill as is, and felt that generic and brand manufacturers needed to be treated differently. The primary reasons were the possible increase in generic medication costs, and the effect that would have on the most vulnerable (elderly/disadvantaged) patients. In other words, 66% of Californians are unwilling to support SB17 in its current form.