Bart Stupak: “today Democrats are keeping another promise to the American people as we bring H.R. 4, the Bipartisan Prescription Drug…”

“today Democrats are keeping another promise to the American people as we bring H.R. 4, the Bipartisan Prescription Drug Negotiation authority to the floor. While Members may not agree on how best to address the health care needs of America, one thing is certain: the United States has the highest drug prices in the world, and those prices keep going up. Today's legislation is a first good step to help lower the costs of prescription drugs for Americans. We can, and Democrats will, do more to lower the cost of prescription drugs in this country. In America, everyone pays something different for their prescription drugs. If you have private insurance, your health plan negotiates lower drug prices for you. If you are covered by Medicaid, each State Medicaid program determines its own drug acquisition costs, and your State may negotiate additional rebates or discounts from drug manufacturers to further lower the price. If you are a veteran receiving health care at the VA, the Federal Government negotiates drug prices for you. According to a recent Families USA study, the lowest price charged by the largest part D Medicare insurers for prescription drugs is at least 58 percent higher than the price under the system used by the Veterans' Administration. It makes no sense for one Federal program to use its purchasing power to leverage lower prices, while another Federal program, Medicare, is forbidden by law, Republican law, from acting on behalf of its beneficiaries.”