Today, Senator Josh Hawley, along with Senators Rick Scott, Marco Rubio, Ron Johnson, Mike Braun, Kevin Cramer, Cindy Hyde-Smith and Dan Sullivan, sent a letter to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America asking that they provide solutions to address the rising cost of prescription drugs. Senator Hawley is committed to lowering the cost of prescription drugs and putting the American consumer back in charge of their healthcare decisions.
This year, Senator Hawley joined Senator Scott in introducing the America First Drug Pricing Plan to address the soaring costs of prescription drugs by promoting transparency and preventing drug companies from forcing American consumers to subsidize low drug prices in foreign countries.
Read the letter here or below.
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June 5, 2019
Mr. Stephen J. Ubl
President and CEO
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
Dear Mr. Ubl,
We hear it every day in our states. Drug prices are too high. Patients are paying more and more every year for life-saving drugs, and some are forced to go without those treatments because they simply cannot afford them.
Soaring drug prices are a serious problem and a problem Washington should have addressed long ago. We cannot understand why Americans pay two to six times more than the rest of the world for brand name prescription drugs or why the U.S. comprised 42% of global pharmaceutical revenues based on 2016 data. American consumers should not be subsidizing European countries so they can keep prices low for their consumers. The system needs to change.
Transparency in health care costs is key to giving patients flexibility and control over their health care decisions. American consumers should always come first, and it is time for U.S. companies to be more transparent and bring down the prices of prescriptions drugs for Americans relative to Canada, Europe and other developed nations.
We write today to ask, as the trade association representing the pharmaceutical industry, what solutions does your association have that would increase transparency and directly lower the list price of drugs for consumers? What specific plans do you have to address price disparities in the international market? And are you willing to work with us to find real solutions to help the American people?
In Washington, there is often too much finger pointing and not enough problem solving. We do not accept that. We are working to find solutions that directly help patients get the health care they deserve. Thank you in advance for your response. We look forward to your cooperation as we work together to lower the cost of prescription drugs.
Sincerely,
Senator Rick Scott
Senator Josh Hawley
Senator Marco Rubio
Senator Ron Johnson
Senator Mike Braun
Senator Kevin Cramer
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
Senator Dan Sullivan