Manley Speaks on Panel Addressing Prescription Drug Costs

Manley Speaks on Panel Addressing Prescription Drug Costs

CHICAGO, Ill. – As Chairperson of the House Health Care Availability and Access Committee, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, was one of six panelists addressing prescription drug costs earlier this month.

“People should not have to ration their medicines, or cut pills in half because they cannot afford life-sustaining medicines,” Manley said. “Rather than blaming how we got to these problems, we need to instead focus on solving them.”

Manley intends to sponsor Governor J. B. Pritzker’s Prescription Drug Affordability Act in the Illinois House of Representatives, which is currently under consideration in the Illinois Senate chamber. The act takes focused aim at pharmacy benefit managers, known as PBMs, that set inflated drug prices in favor of increased profits for major healthcare companies which own the PBMs.

"People are struggling to pay for their unreasonably costly prescription drugs, while simultaneously, many independently-owned pharmacies are being forced out of business,” Manley said.

The panel was one of a series hosted by Health News Illinois, held at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago April 15.

Other panelists included Executive Director Garth Reynolds, Illinois Pharmacists Association; Deputy Vice President for State Advocacy Peter Fotos, PhRMA; Executive Vice President Christopher Crank, Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists; Assistant Vice President of Policy Johnny Garcia, PharmD, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association; and CEO Lou Sandoval, Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

The Prescription Drug Affordability Act aims to stop PBMs from padding their bottom line at the expense of Illinois families and employers. It will help independent, local pharmacies to provide wider access to healthcare. Additionally, it will shine a light of transparency on PBMs and the insurance companies by requiring them to submit annual reports and audits.

Pritzker announced the Prescription Drug Affordability Act in his budget address February 19.

As the panel discussion continued, Manley responded by reminding others that healthcare and prescription drugs are about real people, not just dollars and profits.

“What if that were your child who couldn’t afford the medicine, and what if it were your parent cutting pills in half to get by,” Manley asked. “It’s about the people.”


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