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Rep. Wild Votes to Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs

December 12, 2019

VIDEO: Rep. Wild's full remarks.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) voted to pass H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a bold, transformative piece of legislation that will finally stand up to big pharma and prevent hardworking Americans from paying more for their life saving medications than individuals buying those same drugs in other countries. H.R. 3 passed the House with a bipartisan majority.

"The days of putting profits over people must come to an end. Reducing the costs of prescription drugs was a top priority of mine when I got to Washington and it remains a top priority of mine now," Wild said. "I'm done watching families in the Greater Lehigh Valley decide whether to pay for life-saving medication or to pay their mortgage or put food on the table. No one should have to live in fear of the cost of their health care. Our system has failed the American people, and today we committed to putting their health and well-being first. I am proud to support this long-needed, life-saving legislation."

Last month, Wild called attention to the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs in the Greater Lehigh Valley in a House Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee hearing. In August, Wild endorsed the Pennsylvania Health Access Network's principles for lowering the costs of prescription drugs in the Greater Lehigh Valley, shortly after a press conference held by Wild and Protect Our Care, where she heard from constituents and community health care advocates and released a report on the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs in the Greater Lehigh Valley. In May, Wild led a bipartisan amendment to stop the rising cost of premiums and, with the support of 78 Republicans, passed the House as a part H.R. 986, the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act.

H.R. 3 makes major reforms to increase transparency, reduce drug prices, and limit out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries, participants in employer sponsored plans, and individuals enrolled in commercial health insurance.

H.R. 3 will reduce drug costs for millions of Americans in the Greater Lehigh Valley and across Pennsylvania:

  • Diabetes: Pennsylvanian patients could save $15,000 off the average total cost of the insulin NovoLOG Flexpen per year;
  • Breast Cancer: Pennsylvanian patients could save $45,100 off the average total cost of the breast cancer medication Ibrance per year;
  • Leukemia: Pennsylvanian patients could save $66,300 off the average total cost of the leukemia medication Tasigna per year;
  • Prostate Cancer: Pennsylvanian patients could save $72,100 off the average total cost of the prostate cancer medication Zytiga per year;
  • Arthritis: Pennsylvanian patients could save $30,000 off their total costs on most arthritis drugs per year;
  • Asthma: Pennsylvanian patients could save $1,130 off their total costs on most Asthma drugs per year;
  • HIV/AIDS: Pennsylvanian patients could save $9,000 off their total costs on most HIV/AIDS drugs per year;
  • Multiple Sclerosis: Pennsylvanian patients could save $27,000 off their total costs on most MS drugs per year.

This legislation levels the playing field for American patients and taxpayers. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act:

  • Stops drug companies from ripping off Americans while charging other countries less for the exact same drugs. H.R. 3 will limit the maximum price manufacturers can charge for a negotiated drug to be in line with the average price in countries like the United States.
  • Reverses and prevents unjustified price hikes by implementing an inflation rebate for Part B and D drugs. H.R. 3 will require drug manufacturers to provide a rebate to the American people for price increases for Part B and D drugs that exceed inflation, including increases that have occurred since 2016.
  • Caps out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors. H.R. 3 will establish a $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Part D plans.
  • Reinvests savings in health care for the American people. The savings achieved by H.R. 3 will be used to improve Medicare and will be reinvested in innovation and the search for new cures through NIH research.