AARP New Jersey Applauds State Senator Troy Singleton for Leading Fight to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

Statement from AARP New Jersey Associate State Director for Advocacy Crystal McDonald

TRENTON, N.J. – “Today, Senator Troy Singleton is taking an important step to combat rising prescription prices for all New Jersey residents.

Too many Garden State residents are forced to choose between filling life-saving prescriptions and paying rent, buying food and affording other critical essentials. In 2017, nearly one in four New Jersey residents stopped taking prescription medication as prescribed due to cost. And prices continue to increase.

AARP has been tracking drug prices for 12 years. Year after year, the price of prescription drugs has increased much faster than inflation. Sadly, we’ve seen Big Pharma raise the average annual cost of brand name prescription drug treatments 58 percent between 2012 and 2017.

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board bill introduced today by Senator Singleton targets the root cause of the problem: exorbitant prices set by drug manufacturers. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board will protect New Jerseyans by evaluating and reporting on drug prices and actions the State should take to ensure prescription drugs are affordable.

A Prescription Drug Affordability Board in New Jersey will help ensure pricing decisions are reasonable, justified and support improved consumer access and affordability. We can’t let medication prices continue to sky-rocket.

AARP applauds Senator Singleton for his leadership on this issue and for helping to protect all residents across the state from unfair prescription drug prices.”

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About AARP New Jersey
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. AARP New Jersey educates and advocates on behalf of those 50 and older on issues that are important to them, their families and to all Garden State residents. The organization works to strengthen New Jersey communities with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/nj or follow @AARPNJ on social media.