News Release

“The U.S. House of Representatives resoundingly defied Big Pharma today by passing historic legislation to lower prescription drug prices for America’s seniors and their families.  The Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) accomplishes what we and other advocates have long demanded — that Medicare be empowered to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies, which the CBO says will save more than $450 billion in drug costs.  It also caps Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 per year.

H.R. 3 honors another of seniors’ long-held wishes by adding hearing, dental, and vision coverage to traditional Medicare.  In so doing, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act relieves two sources of financial pain inflicted on older Americans – soaring drug prices and unaffordable out-of-pocket expenses for the care of their eyes, ears, and teeth. 

We applaud House members who voted to pass the first of more than 50 drug pricing bills that have been introduced this year. The focus is now on the U.S. Senate, where prescription drug pricing legislation passed out of the Senate Finance Committee but has yet to be brought up for a vote.  We insist that the Senate follow the House’s lead and act now to lift the burden of crushing prescription drug prices.  Seniors who have been rationing pills or foregoing other necessities in order to afford crucial medications have waited long enough.”  – Max Richtman, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

View letter to the House.

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The National Committee, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the Board of Directors and professional staff.  The work of the National Committee is directed toward developing better-informed citizens and voters.

Media Inquiries to:

Pamela Causey 202-216-8378/202-236-2123
Walter Gottlieb 202-216-841