On June 20, state legislators, union officials and community
leaders announced legislative efforts to lower prescription drug prices. A
highlight of these simultaneous state press conferences organized by CPA was the
model Maine Rx Plan, which allows the state to negotiate discounts for its
325,000 residents who do not have prescription drug coverage.
"There is real momentum building behind this innovative,
no cost to taxpayers solution to the problem of escalating drug prices,"
said Ann Beaudry, CEO of the Center for Policy Alternatives. "It uses
market forces to address a serious health crisis in America.
"Currently over 70 million Americans—one in four—don’t
have health insurance covering prescription drugs, including 18 million seniors
on Medicare and 12 million children. These vulnerable individuals without
coverage don’t have any market clout and thus pay exorbitantly high prices—as
much as 50%more than an HMO or the Medicaid program, and over twice as much as
the Departments of Defense or Veterans Affairs for exactly the same drugs. State
legislators are realizing they can use the state’s market clout, by pooling
their uninsured residents and negotiating discounts and rebates on their
behalf.
In contrast to the partisan gridlock in Congress, the
prescription drug fair pricing legislation gained over-whelming bipartisan
support in Maine. CPA is providing other state legislators and grassroots
organizations with valuable resources to start their own efforts to bring down
the high cost of prescription drugs.
"We’re seeing this same type of bipartisan support in
other states," Beaudry said. "This is landmark legislation. It’s an
example of good public policy meets good politics—an innovative solution that
has received very strong public support."
Legislation to lower prescription drug prices has been or will
be introduced in: AL, AZ, CT, FL, GA,IA, IL, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NY, PA, SC,
VT,WA, and WI.
CPA coordinated a national press conference in Washington,
D.C. in support of state efforts for lower prescription drug prices and increase
access. Speakers included: Ann Beaudry, CEO of the Center for Policy
Alternatives; Gerry Shea, Assistant to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney; Maine
State Senator and Majority Leader Chellie Pingree, primary sponsor of the Maine
bill; Joe Ervin, National Council of Senior Citizens; and Ron Pollack, Executive
Director of Families USA.
To find more about state efforts to lower prescription drug
prices, contact Bernie Horn, CPA Policy
Director at (202) 956-5135.
StateAction.org Links:
