U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to advance the bipartisan Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019 (PDPRA) out of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. This major bipartisan prescription drug pricing reform package will help reduce out-of-pocket costs and lower prescription drug costs for Montanans. The package also saves Montanans and taxpayers over $100 billion.
“From Great Falls to Miles City to Libby, Montanans are paying far too much for the medicine they need,” Daines said. “As Montana’s lone voice on the U.S. Senate Finance committee, I have made it one of my top priorities to lower prescription drug costs for Montanans. I worked hard to help craft this major drug pricing reform package, and I’m proud to have voted for it today moving it one step closer to reality.” Download HERE.
Tim Summers, State Director of AARP Montana, commended Daines’ work stating: “AARP Montana thanks Senator Daines for standing with us to help lower prescription drug prices. While there’s still more work to do, AARP appreciates his leadership today and continued efforts to stop the greed and cut prescription drug prices, now. We look forward to working with the entire Montana delegation to continue to lower prescription drug prices.”
Daines is only the third U.S. Senator from Montana to serve on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.
Among several key provisions PDPRA:
- Lowers Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket costs over $20 Billion
- Lowers premiums over $5 Billion
- Saves taxpayers over $100 Billion
For text of the bill, click HERE. For modifications to the bill following Committee debate and vote, click HERE.
Background:
Daines has been an active voice on the Committee fighting for lower prescription drug costs for all Montanans.
Earlier this year, Daines introduced a bipartisan bill, the Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019, to shed light on the drug pricing process and the middlemen responsible for negotiating prescription drug costs.
In early April, Daines met with seniors at the Touchmark Senior Center in Helena on drug pricing, as well as a teletownhall with AARP and Montana seniors on the issue.
Daines has also participated in several U.S. Senate Finance hearings related to drug pricing including one with PBM executives.
Daines is also a cosponsor of the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples Act (CREATES Act), which would combat brand-name drug manufacturers’ attempts to delay competition from more affordable generic drugs.
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