Burns pushing to rein in out-of-control drug costs
Bill would lower costs, ensure access to life-saving medication such as insulin, epinephrine
Rep. Frank Burns January 13, 2020 | 2:14 PM
EBENSBURG, Jan. 13 – With half of all Pennsylvanians struggling to afford health care – and continued federal inaction to help – state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today announced that he is fighting to rein in out-of-control drug costs and ensure that hardworking families can afford the medication they need.
“When I talk to people across our region, one of the things I hear over and over is how prescription drug prices are destroying family budgets,” Burns said. “Even with insurance, families with sick kids are having to choose between paying for medication or paying the bills – and that isn’t right. If our do-nothing Congress won’t act, then I am urging my fellow legislators in Harrisburg to take action to support Pennsylvania families and put people over profits.”
Inspired in part by a Pennsylvania woman’s ordeal in securing affordable insulin for her family – an ordeal that involved her resorting to black market purchases and the kindness of friends overseas – and recent news events of profiteers charging exorbitant prices for life-saving medicines, the newly introduced legislation would set limits that lower what Pennsylvanians pay for medically necessary drugs.
When people struggle with health care costs, data show that they make health care decisions based on what’s in their wallets instead of their doctors’ recommendations. A 2019 survey by the Pennsylvania Health Access Network showed that Pennsylvania families have been forced to take actions that jeopardize their health, such as delaying care (29%), avoiding getting care altogether (21%), skipping a test or treatment (24%), failing to fill a prescription (19%), or cutting pills in half or skipping doses (17%).
In addition to creating a mechanism to lower drug prices, the legislation would create a pathway to drug importation when a drug company refuses to sell medication at the purchasing limit. Drug importation legislation is being implemented in Maine, Florida, Colorado and Vermont.