AARP Illinois Thanks Lawmakers Who Supported Anti-Drug Price Gouging Bill

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Springfield, Ill. – AARP Illinois issued the following statement Friday thanking the state House of Representatives for voting 65-38 for HB 4900, a proposal to require generic drug companies to justify drastic increases in price to the state Attorney General.

“The House vote for HB 4900 is a step forward for Illinois’ older consumers, for business and for taxpayers,” said Bob Gallo, AARP’s Illinois state director. “We thank the members of the House of Representatives for their strong support for Illinoisans 50-plus.  This legislation provides a measure of predictability for prices for generic prescription drugs, helping to ensure older people in Illinois can get the medications they need to remain healthy.”

Generic drugs play a vital role in maintaining the health of older Americans. Some 88 percent of medications prescribed are now generics.  While generic drug prices overall have declined in recent years, the price of specific generic drugs can skyrocket without warning, leaving older consumers, government and businesses scrambling to adapt.

Albuterol sulfate, which treats asthma, jumped more than 4,000 percent between 2010 and 2015, according to a Government Accounting Office (GAO) study. Epi-Pens jumped 508 percent and the lifesaving Naloxone Auto-Injector, used to treat opioid overdoses, rose 508 percent in the GAO study.

The proposed legislation sets thresholds for generic drug prices increases – 30 percent for the first year, 50 percent for the second year and 75 percent over three years.

Under the bill, drug companies seeking to raise prices above the threshold would have to justify the increases to the state Attorney General.

State health officials would monitor the costs of generic prescription drugs covered under the state employees’ health plan, Medicaid or the state Medical Assistance Program. If the state health officials see spikes in prices above the law’s threshold, they would notify the attorney general.  Drug companies would have 45 days to show the Attorney General that the price increases are justified.

These legislators voted in favor of the bill:

Carol Ammons, D-Champaign

Jaime Andrade Jr., D-Chicago

Luis Arroyo, D-Chicago

Monica Bristow, D-Alton

Daniel J. Burke, D-Chicago

Kelly M. Burke, D-Oak Lawn

Melissa Conyears-Ervin, D-Chicago

Jonathan Carroll, D-Buffalo Grove

Kelly M. Cassidy, D-Chicago

Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora

John Connor, D-Romeoville

Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park

Jerry Costello II, D-Red Bud

Fred Crespo, D-Streamwood

Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago

John C. D’Amico, D-Chicago

William Davis, D-East Hazel Crest

Anthony Deluca, D-Chicago Heights

Sara Feigenholz, D-Chicago

Laura Fine, D-Glenview

Natalie Phelps Finnie, D-Harrisburg

Mary E. Flowers, D-Chicago

LaShawn K. Ford, D-Chicago

Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria

LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis

Wil Guzzardi, D-Chicago

Michael Halpin, D-Rock Island

Sonya M. Harper, D-Chicago

Greg Harris, D-Chicago

Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero

Jay Hoffman, D-Belleville

Francis Ann Hurley, D-Chicago

Thaddeus Jones, D-South Holland

Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego

Lou Lang, D-Skokie

Camille Y. Lilly, D-Oak Park

Theresa Mah, D-Chicago

Natalie A. Manley, D-Joliet

Robert Martwick, D-Chicago

Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan

Bill Mitchell, R-Decatur

Christian L. Mitchell, D-Chicago

Anna Moeller, D-Elgin

Martin J. Moylan, D-Des Plaines

Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumberg

Robert Pritchard, R-Sycamore

Al Riley, D-Hazel Crist

Robert Rita, D-Blue Island

Sue Scherer, D-Decatur

Carol Sente, D-Buffalo Grove

Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago

Nicholas K. Smith, D-Chicago

Juliana Stratton, D-Chicago

Katie Stuart, D-Collinsville

Silvana Tabares, D-Chicago

Andre Thapedi, D-Chicago

Arthur Turner, D-Chicago

Litesa E. Wallace, D-Rockford

Lawrence Walsh Jr., D-Joliet

Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Westchester

Ann M. Williams, D-Chicago

Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake

Sam Yingling, D-Round Lake Beach

Michael J. Zalewski, D-Riverside