Senate approves Vitelli drug pricing transparency bill
AUGUSTA —The Maine Senate unanimously approved a bill from Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, that seeks to gather information so policymakers can better understand the scope, cause and contributing factors of this prescription drug crisis in an initial vote on Thursday.
“The rising cost of prescription drugs is putting Mainers in the difficult position of choosing between life-saving medication and basic essentials, such as groceries, heat and rent. And the situation is only getting worse,” said Sen. Vitelli. “When individuals can no longer afford to meet their basic needs due to the exorbitant cost of medication, we know we have a problem. This bill is our chance we can take reasonable steps that set Maine on the path to achieving real relief for Maine people.
The amended version of LD 1406 “An Act to Promote Prescription Drug Price Transparency” builds on the existing capacity within the Maine Health Data Organization (MDHO) and develops a plan to gather more specific data from manufacturers. It directs the MDHO to collect and report on the top 25 prescription drugs that are the most frequently prescribed in the State, the most costly, and have the highest year-over-year increase in total spending.
Rising drug prices are an issue gaining attention all around the country. About one in ten Americans don’t take their medications as prescribed due to the price of drugs. In Maine, the per-person cost of prescription drugs has risen almost 200 percent over the past two decades. Maine’s seniors and working families are really starting to feel the pinch.
“No one should have to compromise their health because the cost of medication is beyond their reach,” said Sen. Vitelli. “I believe LD 1406 will lift the veil on prescription drug pricing, give customers the information they need to better understand the true cost of their medications, and equip lawmakers with the tools to craft sound policy for the future.”
The American Academy of Neurology has identified transparency as one of three essential solutions to the prescription drug crisis.
The bill will now head to the floor of the House for a vote.
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