Mucarsel-Powell, Scott tackle costs of prescription drugs

Republicans and Democrats in congress agree on very few things nowadays, so when there is “bipartisanship” to be had on any piece of legislation, it’s a rare occasion that both sides like to highlight.

This is the case for lowering the price on prescription drugs.

Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) has introduced the Transparency Drug Pricing Act, a bill would require drug makers to list all patient costs for prescription drugs.

The bill appears to be receiving bipartisan support in the senate, as does Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) co-sponsored Terminating the Extension of Rights Misappropriated (TERM) Act of 2019 in the House, which also addresses the rising costs of prescription drugs, but focuses on tackling the process of “evergreening” drug companies practice.

“This legislation would address the rising cost of prescription drugs by significantly limiting the process known as “evergreening”, whereby pharmaceutical companies make minor changes to a drug and file for a new patent on those trivial changes in order to extend their exclusivity and maintain high prices.”

“Under existing patent statute, generic drug manufacturers must prove why a new patent should not be granted on existing medication. This process adds significant costs to generic manufacturers and slows the ability of lower cost drugs to be released. The TERM Act shifts that burden of proof to pharmaceutical companies, who would have to reasonably demonstrate why changes to a drug qualify it for a new patent.”- Rep. Mucarsel-Powell (D) press release 

 “Americans are paying too much for prescription medications, and I’ve always been committed to working with anyone — Democrat, Republican, Independent — to lower prescription drug costs,” said Mucarsel-Powell “That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan TERM Act to take on drug manufacturers’ shady practice of amassing endless patents to prevent more affordable generic medicines from reaching the market and to stop these companies from increasing their profits at the expense of hardworking Americans