Support Free Market Amendments to the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act

On behalf of our activist community, I urge you to contact members of the Senate Finance Committee and ask them to support two free-market amendments to the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act (PDPRA). Both introduced by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), these amendments would prevent the U.S. federal government from seeking to lower drug prices by implementing price controls.

The first of these two amendments (#1) strikes section 128 from the underlying bill. Section 128 would impose a penalty on prescription drug manufacturers if they raise their prices more than the rate of inflation. This is a backdoor price control that would punish drug makers for innovating. Often, the development of life-saving medicine is a costly endeavor. There is no reason to punish those who do so if they have to raise prices as a result. Striking section 128 would prevent the chilling effect on innovation that the PDPRA could have.

The second of the two Toomey amendments (#6) would prevent the Secretary of Health and Human Services from implementing an international price index (IPI) for prescription drugs. An IPI would tie drug prices in the U.S. to those in European countries. The price controls implemented in Europe are the reason that those nations routinely see drug shortages and longer wait times. Our leaders should not seek to emulate those practices but should avoid them at all costs. Adopting Toomey amendment #6 would ensure the U.S. steers clear of such a harmful framework.

For these reasons, I urge you to contact members of the Senate Finance Committee and ask them to support the Toomey amendments #1 and #6 to the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act.

FreedomWorks reserves the right to include the votes on these amendments during markup to our congressional scorecard, which recognizes members who consistently vote to uphold free markets and individual liberty.

Sincerely,

Adam Brandon, President, FreedomWorks