DeLauro Holds Committee Hearing on Prescription Drugs

WASHINGTON, DC (December 2, 2015) — Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) held a Democratic Steering and Policy Committee Hearing aimed at tackling the rising costs of prescription drugs. Over the last few months, prescription drug companies have astronomically raised the price of treatments that are vital to fighting diseases like HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis C, and cancer, an unsustainable trend that demands action by Congress on behalf of the American people.

"Every day, I see the threat that spiraling drug costs pose to Medicare, Medicaid, and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. While prescription drug prices soar and people across the country suffer, especially seniors and those with serious medical conditions, pharmaceutical companies are reporting record profits," said Rosa DeLauro. "This hearing is just the beginning of our fight to rein in the high drug prices and put people ahead of corporate profits. Now is the time for Congress to take action."

Recently, DeLauro joined several Members of Congress in forming the Affordable Drug Pricing Task Force, which will work to ensure reasonable and wide access to lifesaving medications for patients across the country. Last month, she was joined by senior Democrats in calling for Congress to investigate this critically important issue.

Today's hearing, "Ensuring Access and Affordability of Prescription Drugs, while Spurring Innovation" included testimony by four witnesses who discussed how these skyrocketing prices affect their work in our cities, states, and country. Witnesses included:

• Dr. Jeremy Greene – Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Associate Professor of Medicine and the History of Medicine// Chair in the History of Medicine
• Brian Lehman – Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, Manager of Pharmacy Benefits and Policy
• Andrea Maresca – Director of Federal Policy and Strategy, National Association of Medicaid Directors
• Lynn Quincy – Consumers Union, Director of Health Care Value Hub

Connecticut State Comptroller Kevin Lembo, who administers health benefits on behalf of more than 200,000 state and municipal employees, retirees, and their dependents, submitted written testimony. In October, Lembo asked Connecticut's congressional delegation to investigate and act to reverse the root causes of the pharmaceutical drug price increases. He recently implemented new restrictions to curb a rapid rise in unregulated compound drug prescriptions through the state health plan that have dramatically reduced state spending – by approximately $2 million per month – on certain medications.

"The rapid price increases are straining the state budget and, more importantly, placing significant burdens on consumers who need access to these medications. Swift action is necessary to infuse competition into the marketplace and institute strategies to control costs where competition is inadequate or impossible," said Kevin Lembo. "These drugs – lifesaving, life-changing medications – are not yachts, private jets, and other material icons of wealth reserved only for the privileged few."

A recent poll by STAT and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that approximately three-quarters of the public believe the prices of brand-name prescription drugs are unreasonable and that public support for the pharmaceutical industry is waning significantly. Just over half of all Americans now say drug companies are doing a good job for their customers, compared with nearly 8 out of 10 Americans who expressed that kind of confidence in a 1997 Harris Poll. And according to a recent Kaiser poll, 77 percent of Americans see this issue as a top priority for Congress.

The hearing is available in its entirety here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc33ixxvY-Q.