Description
- Group B Post: Identify a health policy issue, find a state or federal bill related to it, trace its progress and provide a summary. You will want to use the websites required for this week: govtrack.us and Library of Congress Thomas for federal bills; ILGA site for state bills. (200 words)
- Response: Add to your peers' critical evaluation of the issue by posing an intelligent question to one post OR add information to one post that contributes to a more complete picture of the policy issue or the state of the legislation. ( 100 Words)
S. 2543: Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019
Cost for prescription drugs have risen and those affected most by the increase are those that engage in polypharmacy, typically the elderly. It has been reported that more than 3,400 drug prices rose within the first half of 2019, which is a 17% increase from 2018 (Picchi, 2019). Furthermore, the average price hike of prescription drugs are at 5 times the rate of inflation, which outpaces wage growth and cost of living. Given the price increase, Republican Charles “Chuck” Grassley introduced S. 2543, Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019 to reduce the amount of money people pay for prescription drugs. This bill seeks to amend titles XI, XVIII, and XIX of the Social Security Act. The goal is to lower prescription drug prices and transactions, to lower patients’ out-of-pocket costs, and to ensure accountability to taxpayers, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass (GovTrack.us., 2019). The original bill was introduced to congress on September 25, 2019, and is currently in the Senate Finance Committee for review.
References
GovTrack.us. (2019). S. 2543 — 116th Congress: Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019. Retrieved from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s2543
Picchi, Aimee. (July 1, 2019). Drug prices in 2019 are surging, with hikes at 5 times inflation. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drug-prices-in-2019-are-surging-with-hikes-at-5-times-inflation/