SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon legislature ended the 2017 without passage of a single bill to lower prescription drug prices. That means that individual Oregonians, the Public Employees’ Benefit Board and the Oregon Educators Benefit Board will continue to face double and triple digit price increases for the foreseeable future.
“Prescription drug prices are growing faster than any other health care cost and it is disappointing the lawmakers failed to take action on legislation to reduce price gouging and increase transparency,” said Jesse O’Brien of OSPIRG. “At the same time, we are pleased with the unusual coalition that has been created in Oregon and the awareness we have built in the state capitol that something can and must be done to help lower the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs.”
Under the leadership of Rep. Robb Nosse (D-Portland), transparency and pricing legislation passed the House Health Care Committee and began an important movement to for state action to lower prescription drug prices.
Without action, drug prices will continue to be a strain on individual and state budgets. Common treatments such as insulin have increased 300% and specialty drugs enter the market at prices of sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars. Prescription drug prices are the fastest-growing part of the health care system, and over the past year there has been increased focus on inexplicable price hikes on medicines that Oregonians with diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other conditions have taken for years. Prices are growing far beyond other costs, leaving people struggling for access to the medicines they need.
According to analysis done for the Public Employees’ Benefit Board, lowering prescription drug prices would have significantly lowered the cost of health care to the state.
“Taxpayers are paying the price for out of control drug prices,” said Shaun Parkman, Vice Chair of the Public Employee’s Benefit Board (PEBB) and an SEIU member.
He points out that high drug prices affect not only PEBB but the Oregon Health Plan, the state corrections system, the Oregon Educators Benefit Board and Medicare. “Today we all pay too much because we don’t have a true transparent market and the pharmaceutical industry is able to hide prices of drugs. It’s time to shine some light.”
Members of the unprecedented Oregonians for Affordable Drug Prices Now Coalition include a wide range of organizations who have come together for the first time to stand up to the powerful pharmaceutical industry. The coalition includes nurses, pharmacists, consumer groups, health plans, labor unions and others.
The Coalition thanks Rep. Nosse for his tireless efforts on behalf of Oregon patients and consumers.
The members of the Oregonians for Affordable Drug Prices Now coalition include: Oregon Nurses Association, OSPIRG, UNITE HERE!, Basic Rights Oregon, Cambia Health Solutions, Health Care for All Oregonians, Human Services Coalition of Oregon, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Moda Health, Oregon AFL-CIO, Oregon AFSCME, Oregon Association for Home Care, Oregon Association of Hospital and Health Systems, Oregon Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Oregon Education Association, Oregon Primary Care Association, Oregon Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Oregon Society of Physician Assistants, Professional and Technical Employees Local 17, SEIU Oregon State Council, PacificSource and Providence Health & Services
For more information and to join the campaign visit www.affordablerxnow.org.
