We need bipartisan support on drug prices

Iowa patients and their families are struggling with the out-of-control price of prescription drugs. In 2017, nearly one third of Iowans stopped taking their medication as prescribed due to cost.

Brand name drugmakers continue to hike prices at staggering rates and show no signs of slowing down. From January to July, Big Pharma raised prices on over 3,400 prescription drugs, while making record profits. Big Pharma has a track record of employing shady tactics that block competition and divert attention away from their price-gouging behavior.

Sen. Chuck Grassley has been a dedicated leader in advancing solutions to hold Big Pharma accountable and stop the industry's price-gouging.

Grassley introduced bipartisan legislation that has advanced out of a key committee in Congress. The Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019, would boost transparency, increase competition, stop Big Pharma's price-gouging and deliver relief for patients.

Legislation introduced in the House, The Lower Drugs Costs Now Act (HR 3), contains many of the same measures as the Grassley package. Even with bipartisan support behind critical solutions, time is running out to get anything actually passed into law this year.

I appreciate the leadership Grassley has shown. But as this crisis worsens, we need our other elected leaders to get behind bipartisan reforms and pass them into law.

Kim Reem

Mission of Hope

Cedar Rapids