Schakowsky Introduces a Suite of Prescription Drug Pricing Bills

Statement

Late last week, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus' Health Task Force, introduced a suite of bills to lower prescription drug prices. After introducing the bills, Rep. Schakowsky released the following statement:

"Americans are demanding Congress take action as soon as possible to lower prescription drug prices. The message is clear; according to a recent poll, 73% of Americans believe the costs associated with prescription drugs are unreasonable. Americans are being forced to choose between their prescription drugs and putting food on the table, and Congress must do everything in our power to act."

"I have heard over and over from my constituents that prescription drug prices are too high. Whether you are senior on a fixed income or a parent struggling to afford costly medications for your child, you deserve your representatives in Congress to work for you. There are many actions Congress can take right now to address skyrocketing drug prices, and I stand ready to work with any representative that wants to seriously address this problem."

The four bills introduced last week would add to proposals that Representative Schakowsky has already put forward to address this growing problem.

The first bill, H.R. 6574, the Medicare Fair Drug Pricing Act would lower prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries by allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate the price for the most expensive drugs, biologics and sole-source drugs. The second bill, H.R. 6575, the Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act would also provide Medicare beneficiaries much needed relief by creating a low-cost alternative to private Part D insurance plans by creating a new Part D plan administered by HHS. The next, H.R. 6576, the Drug Price Transparency in Communications (DTC) Act, promotes transparency by requiring pharmaceutical corporations to disclose the list price of the drug in direct-to-consumer drug advertisements and in marketing to health care practitioners. The last, H.R. 6577, the Price Relief, Innovation, and Competition for Essential Drugs (PRICED) Act would lower drug prices by reducing the market exclusivity for biologics from 12 years, which is the longest period in the world, down to 7 years, opening the door for lower priced options.

Representative Schakowsky is a leader in Congress on working to lower prescription drug prices for all Americans. She has previously introduced the bipartisan, bicameral FAIR Drug Pricing Act, H.R. 2439, which would require basic transparency when pharmaceutical corporations spike their drug prices. Read more about the bill in an op-ed released today by Rep. Schakowsky and Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL). Additionally, she leads H.R. 1776, the Improving Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs Act, a comprehensive bill that would allow Medicare negotiation, safe drug importation, and end pay-for-delay agreements.

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