Bellows speaks out in support of prescription drug reform package

Sen. Shenna Bellows, D-Mancheser, testified before the Legislature’s Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services in support of legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs in Maine. Wednesday was the second day of public hearings on the Senate Democrats’ prescription drug reform package.

The proposal includes a suite of five drug reform bills – sponsored by Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, Sen. Heather Sanborn, D-Portland, and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic – focused on affordability, accessibility, accountability and transparency.

“Many of my constituents live with constant fears about affordability and accessibility of vital, life-saving medication, and that’s just simply unacceptable,” said Sen. Bellows. “Too many Mainers go without necessary perceptions because prescription drug costs have skyrocketed out of control.”

Two bills from President Jackson propose importing safe and affordable prescription drugs from Canada, which are often 30 percent cheaper than the same drug in the U.S.  LD 1272, “An Act To Increase Access to Low-cost Prescription Drugs,” would set up a wholesale state importation program, similar to legislation that passed in Vermont last year.  LD 1387, “An Act To Increase Access to Safe and Affordable Prescription Drugs,” would create an individual importation program.

President Jackson also has a bill to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board modeled after legislation that passed through the State Legislature in Maryland earlier this month.

The package also includes legislation to regulate pharmacy benefit managers, also known as the “middlemen” between the drug manufacturing companies and pharmacies. LD 1504, “An Act To Protect Consumers from Unfair Practices Related to Pharmacy Benefits Management,” sponsored by Sen. Heather Sanborn would require PBMs to operate in the best interest of providers and pass on all manufacturer rebates to reduce the cost of drugs. It would also prohibit the practice called “spread-pricing” in which PBMs pay pharmacies less for a drug than the cost they charge insurance companies.

The final bill – LD 1162, “An Act To Further Expand Drug Price Transparency” – from Sen. Vitelli would require more transparency for the entirety of the prescription drug marketplace and require disclosure of information impacting drug pricing from manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, wholesalers and insurance companies.

“In 2009, the cost for a package of two EpiPens was $100. It then skyrocketed to $600. Mylan offers a $300 coupon, but that still leaves patients who are prescribed an EpiPen with a potential $300 out-of-pocket cost,” said Sen. Bellows. “That’s a lot of money for most people, but it is a prohibitive amount of money for many of my constituents. We need the transparency and accountability around prescription drug price increases that this bill package proposes.”

In the U.S., one in four Americans struggles to pay for their prescription medication while one in ten Americans does not take their medicine as prescribed to stay afloat. According to the National Academy for State Health Policy, about 200 bills have been filed in 42 state legislatures to address the cost of prescription drugs. Eighty-eight bills have to do with pharmacy benefit managers, 25 are related to wholesale importation and 13 are related to drug affordability review or rate setting.

All five bills face work sessions in the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services before moving to the floor of the Senate and House for additional votes. The work session is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, April 24.