Senator Hassan Hosts Virtual Roundtable with NH Advocates on Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs
NEW HAMPSHIRE – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan today hosted a virtual roundtable with patients and health care professionals in New Hampshire to discuss the urgent need for Congress to take action to lower the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs.
“Affording lifesaving medications is getting harder and harder, and it is forcing seniors and families to make agonizing decisions,” said Senator Hassan. “No one should have to decide between buying their prescriptions on the one hand, or putting food on the table, or paying a utility bill, keeping their house warm… But these are the types of choices that Americans are having to make – and it’s happening all at the same time that pharmaceutical companies are reporting record profits."
“Often times we’re hearing stories about older adults rationing their medications in order to make them last longer. Some of them have run into issues during COVID-19 of availability of their medications, and having to go to multiple pharmacies to be able to fill their prescriptions,” said Heather Carroll, Director of Advocacy at the NH Alliance for Healthy Aging. “At the end of the day cost is always going to be one of those factors that shouldn’t have to be a choice for people who want to remain healthy in their homes with a good quality of life.”
“Many times people fall through the cracks. They come to the pharmacy, and they have no insurance. They can’t afford to pay for the medications out of pocket,” said Jay Gupta, Director of Pharmacy and Integrative Health at Harbor Care in Nashua. “Some of the life-saving medications, particularly EpiPen, most of the inhalers, insulins—it could cost them hundreds of dollars for each prescription.”
“I’ve heard so many stories from folks right here in New Hampshire—you know, right next door kind of people--very sad stories about their inability to afford prescription medication,” said Beverly Cotton of Weare, speaking of her experience volunteering with the American Cancer Society and AARP. She shared stories of Granite Staters moving in with their parents, going through their retirement savings, and rationing their medication in order to afford prescription drugs.
“My health care costs in my early twenties… have just been tremendously burdensome,” said Leah Stagnone, a community organizer for ABLE NH. “I’ve had to depend on family to help support me financially, and it’s just been very difficult and daunting as a young person trying to gain financial independence and trying to get on my feet.”
Senator Hassan also highlighted her work across the aisle to lower health care costs for Granite Staters and Americans. Senator Hassan led successful, bipartisan efforts with Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to help end the practice of surprise medical billing, which is now in effect. Senators Hassan and Cassidy also successfully passed into law their bipartisan legislation to enhance education about biosimilar drug products in an effort to increase competition and lower drug costs. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan, which Senator Hassan helped pass into law, is helping to lower health care costs for many Granite Staters who purchase health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Hassan also advanced bipartisan legislation in 2019 to lower prescription drugs costs by enacting a cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and cracking down on pharmaceutical companies that raise drug prices higher than inflation. The Senator also joined in reintroducing the Affordable Medications Act, which would help reduce health care costs for Granite Staters who rely on Medicare by increasing competition and transparency for drug companies that are setting exorbitant prices on their products, and allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
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