House of Representatives Passes Major Legislation to Lower Prescription Drug Costs
(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which takes decisive action to lower drug prices for American consumers. Currently, prescription drug companies are charging Americans prices that are three, four, even ten times higher than what they charge for the same drugs in other comparable countries. In the first six months of 2019, the list prices for more than 3,400 drugs increased, rising 17% from the year before. House Democrats have made lowering healthcare costs a pillar of their agenda in 2019, and H.R. 3 will take substantial steps in reducing costs by making prescription drugs more affordable. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) was a co-sponsor of the landmark legislation.
"The skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs is an issue that I hear about every single day from my constituents," said Congressman Cleaver. "Across the nation, seniors and families are being dragged down by the heavy burden of unreasonable drug prices, and day-by-day, those prices continue to increase. By allowing Medicare to simply negotiate for better drug prices, we can bring down costs for everybody."
The Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act will:
-Give Medicare the power to negotiate directly with drug companies.
-Make the lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance, too.
-Stop drug companies from ripping off Americans by limiting the maximum price for any negotiated drug.
-Create a new $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug costs for people on Medicare.
-Provide $10 billion over 5 years for Community Health Centers.
-Save American taxpayers approximately $500 billion over the next ten years, which will be reinvested for things like:
- Expanding Medicare benefits to cover dental, vision, and hearing
- Combating the addiction crisis
- Researching new cures and treatments
H.R. 3 will reduce drug costs for millions of Americans in Missouri and across the Fifth District:
-Breast Cancer: Missouri women diagnosed with breast cancer could save $45,000 off the average total cost of the breast cancer medication Ibrance per year;
-Leukemia: Missourians diagnosed with Leukemia could save $66,000 off the average total cost of the leukemia medication Tasigna per year
-Prostate Cancer: Missourians diagnosed with Prostate Cancer could save $72,000 off the average total cost of the prostate cancer medication Zytiga per year
-Arthritis: Missouri patients with Arthritis could save $30,000 off their total costs on most arthritis drugs per year
-Asthma: Missourians with Asthma could save $1,100 off their total costs on most Asthma drugs per year
-Diabetes: The 10% of Missourians who live with diabetes could save $15,000 off the average total cost of the insulin NovoLOG Flexpen per year.
"As long as greed is stronger than the political will of Congress, our seniors and our sick will be robbed at the pharmacy counter," said Congressman Cleaver. "We cannot allow this legislation to die in the Senate graveyard, this issue is too important. It's time for Congress to stand up to Big Pharma and lower drug costs for the people."
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matthew Helfant at 202-225-4535 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.
