Lawmakers debate role of prescription drugs and generics in health care costs

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle Tuesday debated the role of prescription drugs and generics in the rising costs of overall health care.

Speaking at The Hill’s “Complex Generic & the Prescription Drug Landscape” event, Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said affordability needs to be a key focus when crafting new policies.

“We have wonderful medical care in this country, but it is so expensive, including the cost of prescription drugs, in particular, that you can’t afford it,” said Welch, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health and co-chair and founder of the Affordable Medicines Caucus.

He told The Hill’s Steve Clemons that bringing down prescription drug costs is “a potential unifying issue for us in Congress in these troubled times.”

Rep. @PeterWelch: “We have wonderful medical care in this country, but if it is so expensive – including the cost of prescription drugs in particular – that you can’t afford it, then obviously it’s not going to do us any good” #TheHillRx https://t.co/TcK6hK1iUG pic.twitter.com/s67lhdfvUL

— The Hill Events (@TheHillEvents) February 9, 2021

Drug costs have been on the rise for years, creating barriers to many Americans looking to obtain affordable medications.

Guthrie, who is the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, said faster approval of complex generic prescription drugs would provide cost-saving options for Americans.

“There can be no sacrifice in safety and efficacy, but we can certainly make things happen in terms of efficiency and speed,” Guthrie said.

.@RepGuthrie: “Are we going to have one, massive pharmaceutical reform bill that has little chance of passing the Senate…or are there things we can focus on like a laser beam and make big changes?” #TheHillRx https://t.co/TcK6hK1iUG pic.twitter.com/Ayc25pg8Wi

— The Hill Events (@TheHillEvents) February 9, 2021

Sally Choe, director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Generic Drugs and who also spoke at Tuesday’s event, sponsored by the Association for Accessible Medicines, said more generic drugs on the market will contribute to lower patient costs.

“Our policies do affect the competition in the market and we know that more generics on the market lead to more competition, which can drive prices down,” Choe said.

Rep. @PeterWelch: “We have wonderful medical care in this country, but if it is so expensive – including the cost of prescription drugs in particular – that you can’t afford it, then obviously it’s not going to do us any good” #TheHillRx https://t.co/TcK6hK1iUG pic.twitter.com/s67lhdfvUL

— The Hill Events (@TheHillEvents) February 9, 2021