Washington D.C.– Ways and Means Committee Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-TX), Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC) today released legislation – the Lower Costs, More Cures Act – to lower drug costs for Americans without limiting access to cures.
The Leaders sent this letter to their Republican colleagues urging support for H.R. 19 to stop Speaker Pelosi’s government takeover of prescription drug pricing, which would make America more reliant on China, lead to fewer cures, and devalue the life of people with disabilities and those who have chronic illnesses.
Excerpts from the letter:
“Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s government takeover of prescription drug pricing couldn’t be more wrong for this historic time. As you know, she introduced H.R. 3 in the previous Congress—before the COVID-19 pandemic. It was bad policy then, and it’s even worse policy today for the hardworking people of this country who are seeking normalcy and an improved quality of life. The pandemic has further proven we can’t let the Speaker’s government price control scheme stop the development of lifesaving cures and treatments. That’s a tough sell for her on H.R. 3—perhaps that’s why she floated jamming it through as part of President Biden’s ‘infrastructure’ plan.
“Speaker Pelosi’s government price control scheme is the wrong way to lower drug costs. It would make America more reliant on Chinese medical manufacturing, which proved to be a major Achilles’ heel during the pandemic. It would lead to fewer cures and lifesaving medical breakthroughs—especially for families most in need of hope. If H.R. 3 were the law of the land before the pandemic, it would have hindered America’s private sector medical innovators from stepping up to help us beat the virus. Additionally, Speaker Pelosi’s policies would devalue people with disabilities and chronic illnesses—meaning they won’t have access to the treatments they need or those treatments will be delayed. For many patients, this delay in treatment could mean the difference between life and death.
“We want to protect Americans’ health with effective cures, treatments, and therapies. That’s why Speaker Pelosi’s radical plan to put the federal government in charge of setting the price of prescription drugs cannot be our future.
“After experiencing the greatest health and economic crises of our lifetime, people are eager for a modernized health care system, increased choice and transparency, and lower costs. That’s why we are leading H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act. We sent 15 bipartisan solutions from the Lower Costs, More Cures Act to President Donald Trump’s desk to become law last Congress. The updated bill we are introducing today reflects those achievements. All the provisions in H.R. 19 are bipartisan and are ready to become law as soon as possible, including two that already passed the People’s House last week.”
CLICK HERE to read their letter.
Original co-sponsors: Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Ways and Means Committee Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-TX), Education and Labor and Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Leader Devin Nunes (R-CA), and Education and Labor Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Republican Leader Rick W. Allen (R-GA).
The Lower Costs, More Cures Act:
- Lowers costs without jeopardizing cures.
- Leads to lifesaving new cures and innovation, promotes more low-cost options for patients who need them, and stops drug companies from gaming the system.
- Doesn’t make America more reliant on China.
- Provides first-ever out-of-pocket cap for seniors in the Medicare Part D program.
- Caps the cost of insulin for seniors in the Medicare Part D program.
- Empowers patients with more drug price transparency and removes uncertainty at the pharmacy counter.
- Cuts the cost of cancer treatment and other drug administration for Medicare beneficiaries by as much as half.
- Enables strong, pro-America trade agreements to end American subsidizing of other developed countries’ health care.
Speaker Pelosi’s Scheme for Government Price Controls, Fewer Cures:
- “Could lead to as many as 100 fewer drugs entering the United States market over the next decade, or about one-third of the total number of drugs expected to enter the market during that time.” (Trump Administration White House Council of Economic Advisers)
- “Reduce[s] by 88% the number of drugs brought to market by small and emerging companies in California alone.” (California Life Sciences Association)
- Would raise prices on seniors or limit their access to prescription drugs. (CBO)
- Would devalue the lives of and discriminate against people with disabilities and those with chronic illnesses. (National Council on Disability)
CLICK HERE for text of the Lower Costs, More Cures Act
CLICK HERE for a section-by-section summary of the Lower Costs, More Cures Act
CLICK HERE for a fact sheet on how Lower Costs, More Cures will improve affordability of insulin