MADISON, WISCONSIN – AARP Wisconsin State Director Sam Wilson released the following statement this afternoon, applauding Reps. Mark Pocan, Ron Kind, and Gwen Moore of the U.S. House of Representatives for voting to pass H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act.

“AARP Wisconsin commends Reps. Pocan, Kind and Moore for helping pass the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Wilson said. “This bipartisan legislation is a bold step toward lowering prescription drug prices and high out-of-pocket costs for millions of older Americans, including thousands of Wisconsinites.

“H.R. 3 would allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, set an annual out-of-pocket cap for seniors in Medicare Part D, and crack down on relentless drug price increases by pharmaceutical companies,” Wilson said.

“In addition, the $500 billion that the Congressional Budget Office estimates taxpayers will save over the next ten years would be reinvested back into the Medicare program to create important new dental, hearing, and vision benefits. These benefits would improve older adults’ health and well-being and reduce future health care costs.

“High drug prices disproportionately hurt older Americans, particularly Medicare Part D enrollees, who take between four and five prescription medications each month and have an average annual income of just over $26,000 a year,” Wilson continued. “The average annual price of a specialty drug used on a chronic basis is now $79,000. Medications cannot work if they are unaffordable.

“Now it’s time for the Senate to act. AARP Wisconsin urges Senators Baldwin and Johnson to pass the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act. The President and Congress will need to work together to get this done. Americans are desperate for relief from high prescription drug prices,” Wilson said.

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