AARP Applauds Senate and House on Passage of Prescription Drug Affordability Bills

For Immediate Release
February 19, 2020


Contacts:
Cathy MacCaul / 206-218-5915
Jason Erskine / 206-604-7085



AARP Applauds Senate and House on Passage of Prescription Drug Affordability Bills
State survey shows strong support for legislation aimed at reining in high drug prices



Olympia, WA – AARP is applauding the House and Senate on the recent passage of a suite of bills aimed at reining in the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. Washingtonians are facing a crisis when it comes to taking critical, lifesaving medications. The average annual cost of prescription drug treatment in the state increased by 57.8% between 2012 and 2017, while the yearly income for residents only increased by 9.9%.

“Washingtonians shouldn’t be forced to choose between paying for their prescription drugs and putting food on their tables,” said AARP Advocacy Director Cathy MacCaul. “A recent AARP survey of Washington adults age 45+ showed 70% are concerned about being able to afford their prescription drugs. They’re speaking out loud and clear about the need to bring down the cost of drugs, and it looks like their elected lawmakers are listening. With the bipartisan passage of a suite of bills in both the House and Senate, legislators are choosing to put their constituents’ interests ahead of pharmaceutical company greed,” said MacCaul.

AARP is supporting a number of measures sponsored by Senator Karen Keiser (D-33), including:

· Senate Bill 6087 would cap out-of-pocket costs to patients for insulin at $100 per month. It passed the Senate yesterday, Feb. 18 on a vote of 34-14.

· Senate Bill 6113 would create a centralized purchasing process for insulin based on the approach used by the state to purchase childhood vaccines. It passed the Senate yesterday, February 18 on a vote of 28-20.

· Senate Bill 6088 would establish a prescription drug affordability board that would review prices and price increases to determine whether maximum price caps are needed. It passed the Senate on February 17 on a vote of 28-20.

AARP is also supporting House Bill 2710 sponsored by Representative June Robinson (D-38) which would require pharmaceutical manufacturers to report the reasons behind dramatic price increases, and to justify high launch prices and price hikes of the 25 most prescribed drugs. HB 2710 passed the House on Feb. 17 on a vote of 56-42.

And finally, AARP is supporting House Bill 2662 sponsored by Representative Jacquelin Maycumber (R-7). The measure would cap out-of-pocket costs to patients for insulin at $100 per month, and it would create a centralized purchasing process for insulin based on the approach used by the state to purchase childhood vaccines. The bill passed the House this afternoon, February 19 on a strong bipartisan vote of 97-1.

Each measure is now headed to the opposite chamber for consideration. According to AARP’s survey, an overwhelming majority of Washington adults support each attempt at lowering drug costs.. Among respondents who use insulin or have a family member who uses insulin, the majority strongly or somewhat support capping how much Americans have to pay out of pocket for insulin (93%). Similarly, more than eight-in-ten support the state government negotiating the price of insulin (83%).

Nearly nine-in-ten strongly or somewhat support requiring drug companies to publicly disclose how prices are set (87%); making it easier for generic drugs to come to market (91%), and allowing states to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices (88%). Eight-in-ten support capping how much Americans have to pay out of pocket for their prescriptions (80%).

“The passage of each of these bills from their house of origin is a significant first step,” said MacCaul. “But now that they’re headed to the opposite chambers for consideration, it’s important Washingtonians keep up the pressure. The powerful drug industry lobby is hard at work protecting their bottom lines, and we must work even harder to make sure our voices are heard,” she said.

More information about AARP’s efforts to lower prescription drug costs is available at www.aarp.org/StopRxGreedWA. A full copy of AARP’s survey is available online.

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Survey Methodology: AARP engaged Alan Newman Research (ANR) to conduct a quantitative research study among Washington State residents ages 45 and older. Interviews were conducted December 2–19, 2019, with 812 residents of Washington, by landline (50%), cell phone (25%), and online (25%). All data are weighted by age, gender, race/ethnicity according to 2018 U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey (CPS) statistics.