Who would’ve thought we’d land on Mars EIGHT TIMES before we landed lower drug prices?
Welcome to the Week in Review.
- Minnesota Makes A Move
- This week, Minnesota lawmakers introduced a bill that would create a state prescription drug affordability board and advisory council with the power to set upper payment limits on unaffordable drugs. Patients like Travis Paulson, who lives with type 1 diabetes, and Ramae Hamrin, who lives with multiple myeloma, shared their stories in support of the board. “When (my life savings) run out, I’m not sure what I will do,” Ramae testified. “Usually, I am a planner — but I cannot plan for this.” — (AP)
2. A Unifying Cause
- The fight to lower drug prices continues to be a bipartisan effort. Senator Bernie Sanders, chairman of a Senate HELP subcommittee, and Senator Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, are publishing reports, putting drug pricing hearings on the agenda, and sponsoring legislation on drug prices this year. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle agree that out-of-control drug prices harm patients. Let’s make 2021 the year we pass reforms to fix that. — (Sen. Bernie Sanders, The Iowa Standard)
3. Magnifying The Price Hikes
- Over the past month, Patients For Affordable Drugs has released a series of graphics taking a closer look at some of the most impactful January 2021 price hikes. These include drugs like the cancer treatment Revlimid, which saw its 24th price hike since 2006, and the best-selling medication Humira, which now costs $5,968 for a month’s supply following a 7.4 percent price hike. In the midst of a pandemic, Big Pharma continues to raise prices, taking advantage of patients who already have the most to lose. — (P4AD)