Blunt Rochester Hosts Roundtable on High Price of Diabetes Drugs
Washington,
August 14, 2019
|
Andrew Donnelly
(202-225-4165)
NEWARK, DE – Yesterday, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester hosted a roundtable on the high cost of insulin and other critical, life-saving medications that Delawareans rely on. The Congresswoman was joined by leading health care advocates from across the state to discuss potential policy solutions to lower the cost of these critical drugs. The Congresswoman also unveiled a report from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform highlighting the current state of drug prices in Delaware. The report revealed that 85,000 Delawareans are currently living with diabetes, including 38,000 seniors and disabled Medicare beneficiaries. The report also revealed that only three companies make 96% of the country’s insulin and that a lack of generic options drives up the cost of insulin. “While the issue of drug pricing is a complex one, stakeholders shared their challenges and potential solutions. Some of those solutions already have meaningful, bipartisan legislation that will allow Medicare to negotiate drug costs, cap out of pocket expenses, and increase access to insulin,” said Congresswoman Blunt Rochester. “Yesterday’s roundtable made me hopeful. Congress has already begun some of this important work and with additional effort, we can cut through the noise and ensure people’s lives are better.” “Delawareans are fortunate to have Members of Congress such as Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester who are addressing the issues in order to lower the cost of prescription drugs,” said George Meldrum, State President of AARP Delaware. “AARP applauds her leadership.” The Congresswoman was joined by: • Dr. Kim Robbins, Executive Director of the Delaware Pharmacist Society • Dr. Rose Kakoza, Clinical Director for Community Health and Equity for Primary Care and Community Medicine, Christiana Care • Rachel Marie von Vital, Care Link Population Health Pharmacist, Christiana Care • Bettina Tweardy Riveros, Esq, Chief Health Equity Officer, Christiana Care • Lucretia Young, State Director for AARP Delaware • George Meldrum, State President, AARP Delaware • Karen Woicekowski, Advocacy Team Chair for JDRF Delaware • Liam Brickley, Advocate, JDRF Delaware • Pooja Gupta, Pharmacy Manager, Rite Aid Pharmacy • Don Post, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Program Manager, Diabetes and Heart Disease Prevention and Control Program • Dr. Lenaye Lawyer, Medical Director, AmeriHealth Caritas • Meghana Desai, Senior Pharmacist Care Management, Highmark Health Options • Renee Licwinko, RPh, Highmark Health Options – Pharmacy Product Director • Dr. Megan Werner, Associate Medical Director for Population Health and Quality Improvement at Westside Family Health • Dr. Yvette Gbemudu, Physician, Henrietta Johnson Medical Center • Dr. Nicholas Biasotto, Executive Board Member and Vice Chair of Government Affairs Committee, Medical Society of Delaware • Nina Pletcher, President, Delaware Diabetes Coalition • Sara Pletcher, Executive Director, Delaware Diabetes Coalition ###
|
