Governor Jay Inslee to Sign First in a Series of Bills Aimed at Lowering Rx Drug Costs in Washington State

For Immediate Release:
March 31, 2020

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

Governor Jay Inslee to Sign First in a Series of Bills Aimed at Lowering Prescription Drug Costs in Washington State
Statement from AARP Advocacy Director Cathy MacCaul

Olympia, WA – Governor Jay Inslee is expected to soon sign into law a series of AARP supported bills aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs in Washington State. AARP Advocacy Director Cathy MacCaul released the following statement responding to today’s scheduled signing of Senate Bill 6087, and the pending signings of Senate Bill 6088 and House Bill 2662.

“Washington is poised to take an important step to lower the high cost of prescription drugs in our state. With today’s signing of Senate Bill 6087 by Governor Inslee, and his expected signatures soon on Senate Bill 6088 and House Bill 2662, the Governor and our legislators are choosing to put their constituents’ interests ahead of pharmaceutical company profits.

"We commend Senator Karen Keiser (D-33) and Representative Jacquelin Maycumber (R-7) for their leadership, and applaud the legislature for their bipartisan support of the measures. Senate Bill 6087 will cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $100 per month. Senate Bill 6088 will create the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, which would give our state the ability to evaluate drug prices and set limits on how much certain payers, including state agencies, will pay for high-cost prescription medications. House Bill 2662 will cap out-of-pocket costs to patients for insulin at $100 per month, and form a workgroup to create a centralized purchasing process for insulin based on the state approach used to purchase childhood vaccines.

“For too long, Washingtonians have been struggling to afford the life-saving medications they need. Even though insulin has been around for almost a century, the cost of the diabetes drug has skyrocketed in recent years, nearly tripling between 2002 and 2013, according to a study from the American Diabetes Association.

“According to a recent AARP survey, nearly half of Washington adults who report using insulin for themselves or a family member say their out-of-pocket spending on insulin has increased in the last four years. As a result, about 20 percent (of respondents or their family) have had to make adjustments such as cutting back on necessities like food, fuel, and electricity (24%), taking less medication than what is prescribed (21%), or skipping a dose to save money (18%).

“Those types of decisions are a life and death gamble for people like Tina Ghosn from Snoqualmie. Ghosn has three children with type 1 diabetes. Even with good employer insurance, insulin costs her family $500 a month out of pocket. Ghosn says that over the years, they’ve spent upwards of $30,000 out of pocket on the drug.

“Washingtonians have been persistent, repeatedly contacting their legislators to demand action and pass these needed bills to provide prescription drug cost relief. We could not have made it this far without their strong voices and those of others deeply concerned about the financial burden of paying for lifesaving medication. We applaud our fellow Washingtonians and commend our legislators and Governor for their support.”

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