Congress needs to stop ignoring and address immediately the out of control cost of prescription drugs. Over the past five years, the cost of brand name drugs have increased at 10 times the rate of inflation, leaving one in four Americans unable to afford their medication. No one in America should have to choose between paying for their daily needs or taking the medication they need to remain healthy. It is time for Congress to stand up to the pharmaceutical companies and step up for the American consumer. Congress must reject the Trump administration’s proposed Rebate Rule, which would increase Medicare Part D premiums significantly.

The drug companies are gaming the system and it has to stop. While the cost of prescription drugs keeps going up, 9 out of 10 of the biggest drug makers are spending 50 percent more on advertising existing products than on researching and developing new ones. They are also continuing seeking to extend patent protections by filing numerous patients that trigger automatic delays – 247 patent applications have been filed on Humira in the U.S. with the aim of delaying competition for 39 years. All this at a time when the price of Humira has increased by nearly 100 percent in the last five years.

In this country, no one should have to choose between putting food on the table or taking their medications and it is up to Congress to change the system to make this happen.

 

Michelle Dale

Augusta

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