HARMAN CO-AUTHORS AMENDMENTS TO CURB DRUG COSTS WITH FELLOW ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS

Lawmaker says “The last time Congress had an opportunity to do something about drug prices, we punted.”

Washington, D.C. -- Reps. Jane Harman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Kathy Castor (D-FL), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Betty Sutton (D-OH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Lois Capps (D-CA) – members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee – announced today a bloc of amendments to The Affordable Health Choices Act (HR 3200).  The “CARE (Cut Americans’ Rx Expenses) Package” of amendments is aimed at curbing out-of-control drug costs that drive up health care costs.

“Many American families face a choice between buying medicine and putting food on the table,” Harman said. “When we’re talking about healthcare reform, this may be the one thing that has the biggest impact on the most Americans. The last time Congress had an opportunity to do something about it, we punted.”

American consumers are charged the world’s highest prices for prescription drugs. Prescription medications represent a tenth of all healthcare expenditures, but that figure is only going up.  By 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services estimates Americans will spend more than half a trillion dollars on medications, more than double what they did in 2006.

"I want pharmaceutical companies to thrive. These modest amendments express our national need for all players in the health care system to help achieve savings. But make no mistake, drug companies will benefit from having many more insured Americans," Rep. Anthony Weiner said.

"We must bring down the cost of prescription drugs," Rep. Castor said.  "Drug prices are far too high, forcing too many of my neighbors to choose between filling their prescriptions, making mortgage payments and putting food on their tables.  We must rein in these high drug costs and give real power and leverage to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices and to create a list of drugs that will drive competition and encourage pharmaceutical manufacturers to keep costs low.  That is how we will realize savings and ensure that prescription drugs are affordable.  This will bring us a step closer to making sure health care is affordable and accessible.”

“There is something wrong when Americans are paying record high drug prices and drug companies are reporting record profits,” Rep. Sutton said.  “I am pleased to join my colleagues in offering this package of initiatives aimed at lower drug prices for America’s families and seniors.”

The amendments proposed by Harman, Weiner, Castor, Sarbanes, Welch, Sutton, Schakowsky, Capps, and Baldwin are explained in a fact sheet that can be downloaded here.

Lawmakers also advocate additional steps to lower drug prices, including H.R. 1298, which would allow FDA-certified pharmacies and wholesalers to import specific drugs from a short list of approved countries.  At a press conference today attended by most co-authors of the CARE Package, Harman said reimportation is estimated to save an additional $50 billion in the next decade.

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