— from Dave Pringle, Senate Democratic Communications —
Recognizing the real impact of prescription drug costs on Washington citizens’ pocket books and the state budget, Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, introduced bipartisan legislation to bring transparency to prescription drug costs. Senate Bill 5586 was heard in the Senate Health Care Committee [on Tuesday].
“People who rely on prescription drugs for their health are finding them increasingly expensive to purchase,” Ranker said. “Consumers should have the confidence that the manufacturer is charging a fair price.”
“Last year, health care costs in the state budget increased $384 million under managed care accounts; about $246 million of that was attributed just to prescription drug costs,” Ranker said. “With clear and up-to-date information, we can work to contain prescription drug costs.”
Ranker’s Senate Bill 5586 would require pharmaceutical companies to make their pricing, research, and development as transparent as the pricing in other sectors of the health care industry by reporting a breakdown of those costs to the Legislature.
“The cost of prescription drugs can push a household to the brink in some cases,” Ranker said. “No one should have to choose between getting the medication they need and making risky choices like rationing their meds or going into debt to afford their medication.”
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We don’t need transparency so much as the ability to buy our Rxs in or from Canada.
Thanks to Senator Ranker for something that is long overdue. Hopefully this will lead to the pharmaceutical drug industry reducing prices.
Addressing what Peg says, several weeks ago the US Senate was considering a bill that would allow pharmacies to import prescription drugs from Canada. It was supported mostly by Democrats, but a number of Republicans joined in supporting the bill, including Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. Regrettably, our two US senators from Washington, Cantwell and Murray, voted against the bill. Why? I have emailed and called their offices, with no response. But it isn’t hard to find the real answer. Both receive lots of campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry. So they would rather take care of their campaign treasuries than their constituents. Oh, they will give the excuse that these imported drugs aren’t safe…Nonsense! These drugs are made on the same equipment in the same labs as the drugs sold in the US.
Some of you may have watched the healthcare debate on CNN last night between Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz. While there was a lot they didn’t agree on, they did agree that we need to reduce the price of prescription drugs, and until the pharmaceutical industry does this, we need to be able to import prescription drugs from Canada. Bernie Sanders introduced the bill a few weeks ago that was defeated, and he will shortly introduce it again, this time with Ted Cruz as a co-sponsor. Look for this to happen, and when it does, bombard our senators with phone calls telling them to forget about their campaign contributors and vote for the people.
Thanks to Ranker and thanks to David!