In response to the dramatic rise in prescription drug spending in recent years and the need to advance discussions around coordinated solutions, National Academy of Medicine President Victor J. Dzau will host a forum called Affordable Medicines: Access, Innovation, and the Public Interest.  The forum will feature a special address by Alex M. Azar II, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and a discussion with the nation’s top health and government leaders.

As Californians prepare for new leadership to address challenges both new and old, this is the perfect time to survey California’s health policy landscape and examine topics including: purchasing for value and quality, addressing social determinants and integrating care, and the pros and cons of consolidation.