Kaiser Health News: “Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) gives a big thumbs-up for allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmhnrBiIwTE

“That should have been done years ago,” he said.

(Washington, DC) — A recent Kaiser Health News article highlights support from U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) for prescription drug reform by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with drugmakers.

Sen. Manchin “gave a big thumbs-up for allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices”, the article reads:

“That should have been done years ago. How in the heck that never was done doesn’t make any sense at all,” he told reporters.

Democrats in Congress are currently assembling a $3.5 trillion budget framework package that would likely provide the biggest jolt to the American health care system since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. The recently announced budget framework includes provisions to lower the cost of prescription drugs. House Democrats have pushed H.R. 3, or the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, separate legislation that would give Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices.

Mindy Salango is a Type 1 diabetic who lives in Morgantown, WV. Even though she has health insurance through her employer, Mindy still spends about $350 every month paying for her prescription medications, insulins, and other diabetes supplies she needs to stay healthy and alive. She is pleased to see this vocal support from her Senator Joe Manchin.

“Our elected officials work for us. We vote them in. We are their constituents. I am glad Senator Manchin has expressed support for giving Medicare the power to negotiate prescription drug prices, which will have a life changing impact on thousands of West Virginians. Lawmakers in Washington need to get to work on meaningful prescription drug reform. It’s time to pass H.R.3 so that West Virginians and Americans across the country don’t have to keep making these difficult choices and impossible trade-offs between paying for our prescription drugs or other essentials.

You can read the full KHN article here.