EDITOR'S NOTE: Multimedia journalist Lydia Pantazes spoke with a local resident who uses insulin and a pharmacist about Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent health-care announcement. Click the arrow above to watch the video.

DOWNEY, Calif. (CNS) — Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a partnership with Civica Rx to provide insulin to Californians for $30 for 10 milliliters — which he said was as little as one-tenth of the current cost.

Newsom visited a Kaiser warehouse in Downey on Saturday as part of his tour of California, discussing his administrative policies in lieu of a traditional State of the State address.

He praised the 10-year partnership as a way to lower the health-care burden for residents without “subsidizing costs or socializing costs” but to address the “underlying” costs.

The insulin program, which will be administered through CalRx, was characterized by the governor as “market disruption,” which he hoped would prompt major drug companies to lower their prices for the drug.

“This a big deal for us. This is not happening anywhere else in the United States,” the governor said.

“Diabetes has become an overwhelmingly expensive chronic condition, and it is heartbreaking that millions of people in California and across the U.S. are faced with the possibility of having to ration their care and put their lives at risk because they can no longer afford insulin,” Civica President and CEO Ned McCoy said. “We applaud California for its mission- driven commitment to lowering the cost of insulin and look forward to our groundbreaking partnership on behalf of people living with diabetes.”

Newsom said manufacturing is set to begin later this year, and added that he anticipates “favorable treatment” from the FDA, and hopes to see delivery begin next year.

The governor also announced Saturday that his administration was exploring the next potential product to bring to market — namely Naloxone, or Narcan, the drug that reverses the effect of an opioid overdose and is credited with saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Newsom said the state’s Health and Human Services Agency is working with Civica to identify a California-based manufacturing facility.

“We’re starting with insulin, but we’re not stopping there,” said HHSA Secretary Mark Ghaly, who joined Newsom for the announcement along with Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Downey Mayor Claudia Frometa and others. “We are going to look for other opportunities, (for savings).”

“No one should have to choose between paying for the prescription medicine that keeps them alive and paying their rent or putting food on the table,” Hahn said. “This new partnership to manufacture insulin and make it available for just $30 will be life-changing for families. I applaud the governor’s ambitious effort and his commitment to taking on the challenges Californians are facing.”

Republicans said action was needed to save the state’s hospital system, but blamed “years of underfunded Medi-Cal reimbursements for hospitals throughout the state not being able to pay their bills, putting them on the brink of collapse.”

“This is a self-inflicted crisis of epic proportions that is putting lives on the line,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego. “While Newsom makes a stop on his statewide tour to talk about health care, he’s missing the mark — there are families currently without access to emergency services and millions more who may be at-risk if the governor does not act quickly.”

Jones added: “While I appreciate the governor’s passion and creativity to address rising health care and prescription drug costs, the priority right now should be saving the health care system we currently have. Without immediate action, millions of Californians won’t have access to doctors, nurses, and hospital services.”

The governor began his tour Thursday in Sacramento, where he discussed plans to build 1,200 small homes across the state to address homelessness, followed by an address Friday centered on a plan to overhaul San Quentin State Prison.

The tour continued Sunday in San Diego with an event focusing on mental health care, and wrapped up Monday in Imperial County, where Newsom touted the progress being made on transforming the Salton Sea region into a global hub for battery production.

CORRECTION: City News Service incorrectly stated that Newsom would be targeting meloxil as the next drug in his cost-saving efforts, and indicated a deal had been announced that would allow California to manufacture its own lower-cost Naloxone. An agreement has not been reached. (March 21, 2023)