Media Release: The Lower Drug Costs Now Act Takes Bold Action to Address the Skyrocketing Costs of Prescription Drugs in the US

September 24, 2019
For Immediate Release
Vincent DeMarco, 410-591-9162

Statement: The Lower Drug Costs Now Act Takes Bold Action to Address the Skyrocketing Costs of Prescription Drugs in the United States

Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative President Vincent DeMarco released the following statement today regarding H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, introduced on September 19, 2019.

“Last week, House Democrats announced an ambitious plan to address the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs. At a time when nearly one in three Americans report skipping their medication due to prohibitive cost, the nation needs a comprehensive approach to provide meaningful relief to patients. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act is an important step toward ensuring that more Americans have access to the medications they need, and the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative applauds Speaker Pelosi and Chairmen Pallone, Neal, and Scott for their leadership on this issue.

While Maryland has taken important steps towards addressing prescription drug prices by creating the nation’s first Prescription Drug Affordability Board, action by Congress is critical to ensuring that everyone in this country has access to the medicines they need. Countless Americans have been forced to choose between their prescription drugs and other necessities, like rent and groceries, due to prohibitively expensive medications. These high costs threaten families’ financial stability, burden taxpayers, and impact patients’ health, because drugs don’t work if people can’t afford them. H.R. 3 aims to address the cause of this issue directly through several innovative provisions, including lifting the ban on Medicare negotiation.

We at the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative strongly support the enactment of the Lower Drug Costs Now Act. We look forward to continuing our work as a member of the Coalition for Fair Drug Prices to ensure that this legislation is in alignment with the coalition’s guiding principles as it moves through the legislative process.”