Prescription costs are out of control
Recently we saw some outrageous 5.000 percent price increases for a prescription drug. Last year we saw increases over 1,000 percent on others as well.
Why are we, in the USA paying double and triple what the same drugs can be bought for in Canada and other safe source countries. Why is importation from safe source countries blocked? Why doesn’t Medicare put drugs out for bid, as does the VA? Companies make Pay-for Delay deals to not produce. These issues represent hundreds of millions of dollars per year to the public and government.
There are several bills, many with a number of bi-partisan co-sponsors, in congress that would address all of these issues but can’t seem to get out of committee. It is long past due for congress to stop overly influenced by the pharmaceutical industry and pass these bills!
Mike Cronin, Surfside Beach
This story was originally published October 21, 2015 at 7:29 AM with the headline "Prescription costs are out of control."