John Rice Carter: “I thank the gentleman for hosting this tonight and for his advocacy on the part of the community pharmacy, but, more…”

“I thank the gentleman for hosting this tonight and for his advocacy on the part of the community pharmacy, but, more importantly, on the part of the patients, because that is what this is about. This is about patients, about patient care, about escalating prescription costs. That is what we are talking about here, about unfair trade practices. This is America. Like my colleague mentioned earlier, I am not opposed to anybody making money. That is great. More power to them. But where there is a problem with transparency, there is a problem with PBMs. There is a problem with escalating drug prices. I want to mention that I have been a practicing pharmacist, as Representative Collins mentioned, for over 30 years. I have worked with my neighbors and my friends to really provide a helpful voice for their needs. Beneficiaries are facing increased costs in prescription drugs without much of a basis notification as to why these costs are skyrocketing. My friend, Representative Collins; my friend, Representative Scott; others--even on the other side of the aisle--Representative Peter Welch, Representative Elijah Cummings, and Representative Dave Loebsack, this is a nonpartisan issue. Everybody has to have prescription medications. Whether you are a Democrat, whether you are a Republican, whether you are an Independent, it doesn't matter. Everyone is the victim of escalating prescription drug costs. The problem is we have got to understand where that is coming from.…”