From the Seniors & Aging Issues Series presented by Oregon Alliance for Retired Americans:
Reports are widespread: Sudden skyrocketing prices for drugs available – and affordable -- for years; seniors splitting or skipping doses; others choosing between refills and groceries or rent; medicines costing many times for the same drug as it does in other countries, even though they’re made by the same company and even in the U.S.A.
The blame sure belongs with the pharmaceutical industry ($240-million on lobbying last year) and its army of lobbyists (more than 1,400). But let’s start with Congress prohibiting the government from using its purchasing power to negotiate prices when it created Medicare Part D. An effort at transparency is alive in the 2018 Oregon Legislative Session in a new attempt through HB 4005 by Rep. Rob Nosse and others.
Participants will learn from Nosse about that effort and its results at the time of the program and next steps. They’ll also hear about the larger movement toward affordable pricing from a representative of Patients for Affordable Drug Pricing Now.