AARP Kentucky Applauds House Vote on House Bill 12

AARP Kentucky Applauds House Vote Capping Cost Sharing for Prescription Insulin

FRANKFORT, Ky. (February 19, 2020) – AARP Kentucky State President Charlotte Whittaker (@Charlotte_KY) released the following statement today applauding the state’s House of Representatives for voting to pass House Bill 12 (92-0):

“We thank every Member of Kentucky’s House and especially, Representative Dan Bentley, for taking a lifesaving leap forward. Kentuckians are paying too much for prescription drugs like insulin and fear one illness could bankrupt their lives. Prescription drugs don’t work if you can’t afford them. And access to affordable prescription drugs, like insulin, are a top priority for older Kentuckians,” says AARP Kentucky volunteer State President Charlotte Whittaker.

Some 508,321 Kentuckians are diagnosed with diabetes today and estimates show another 100,000 are undiagnosed. One in eight people living in Kentucky have diabetes, and many of those are in eastern Kentucky, where some of the highest rates of diabetes can be found.

Whittaker added, “Kentuckians, like most Americans, are desperate for relief from high prescription drug prices. AARP is fighting hard on behalf of our members because high drug prices disproportionately hurt older Americans. Now it’s time for the Senate to act. AARP Kentucky urges the Senate to pass House Bill 12 and send it to Governor Andy Beshear’s desk.”

72% of likely Kentucky voters age 50-plus surveyed in 2019 told AARP they are “Very Concerned” over rising prescription drug prices.

· Most voters age 50+ (72%) feel that candidates’ positions on rising prescription drug costs are very important to them.

· 88% of voters 50+ believe that prescription drug companies make too much profit and 84% think that elected officials are doing too little to address the high cost of prescription drugs.

· 83% think drug companies have influence over their governor and state legislators.

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