AARP New York on State Senate Passage of Rx Bills

ALBANY, N.Y. – AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel issued the following statement today in support of the Senate’s efforts to advance policies that could lead to major changes in prescription drug pricing and transparency in New York to create access to affordable prescription drugs.

“AARP commends the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and lauds lawmakers for passing this prescription drug package with a bipartisan vote that will benefit all New Yorkers.

“Prescription drugs don’t work if people can’t afford to take them, and today’s action by the State Senate is a major step toward making drug prices more affordable for all New Yorkers, especially older people living on a fix income.

“We thank the Senate for recognizing and acting on this issue so early in the legislative session by passing a number of bills aimed at addressing the high cost of prescription drugs. We urge Governor Hochul and the Legislature to tackle prescription drug price reform in the state budget by adopting these and other reforms, including leveraging the lower costs our neighbors in Canada pay for the same drugs to bring down costs here in New York.

“The Governor got things going in the right direction when last month she signed a bill requiring drug makers to disclose and justify significant prices increases. We call on the State Assembly to also pass these key pharmaceutical pricing bills, and for all parties to adopt robust prescription drug price reforms.”

The individual bills passed by the Senate today that are supported by AARP New York include:

• S.4786 (Rivera) - An act to amend the public health law, in relation to enacting the "New York Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act."
• S.604 (Skoufis) same as A.7954 (Simon) - An act to amend the public health law, in relation to creating a whole-sale prescription drug importation program.
• S.966 (Rivera) same as A.6518 (Tapia) - An act to amend the elder law, in relation to program eligibility for plans comparable to Medicare part D.
• S.3518 (Fernandez) same as A.895 (Gallagher) - Enacts the manufacturer disclosure and transparency act requiring prescription drug manufacturers to notify the attorney general of arrangements between pharmaceutical manufacturers resulting in the delay of the introduction of generic medications.
  
• S.504-A (Rivera) same as A.4141-A (Forrest) – Would eliminate co-payments and other cost-sharing requirements for insulin.
  

AARP also supports S.398, introduced by Senator Cordell Cleare but yet to be acted on, which would create a state pilot program to use the lower drug prices paid in Canada for the price we would pay here in New York.

“Leveraging the lower prices paid for prescription drugs in Canada will bring down prices here in New York by establishing an international reference pricing program for the Empire State. This and other initiatives can result in lowering drug price increases and help New Yorkers better manage their finances when it comes to their prescriptions.”

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AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.