Congress must act on rising drug prices

No matter our age, background, or ZIP code, Iowans agree that the cost of prescription drugs is too high. Drug companies have been raising prices on prescription medications for far too long. Some think it’s due to inflation. It’s not. Corporate greed drives the prices. Congress must take meaningful action to address the price gouging by pharmaceutical companies.

We hear legislators talking about high drug costs, but what are they are doing to address this issue? Not all legislation is the same. The Lower Costs, More Cures Act sounds like a good plan, but in reality, it’s a misleading drug affordability bill that would deregulate big pharma and give more power to Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). This bad bill attempts to deceive people about the issues of high costs and pricing transparency.

Rep. Ashley Hinson has already voted against capping the cost of insulin. If she is serious about lowering drug prices and helping Iowans, she will support the Lower Drug Costs Now Act. This bill would allow Medicare negotiations to lower prices, capping monthly insulin costs at $35, and cap the out-of-pocket costs for seniors in Medicare Part D at $2,000. For most of us, that dollar amount is huge already.

Iowans shouldn’t have to choose between buying groceries or buying their prescriptions. It’s time to stop the high costs of prescriptions and support the Lower Drug Costs Now Act.

Mary Burke

Lisbon