Westbank Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered remarks during a hearing on prescription drugs. Cassidy expressed his disappointment with the hearing, stating that it was not about finding serious legislative solutions but rather about publicly attacking private citizens and blaming corporations. He criticized the majority for not seeking Republican input and for focusing on CEOs instead of addressing the complex issue of high drug prices.

Cassidy acknowledged that drug companies play a role in the high cost of prescription drugs and expressed the need to understand how they price drugs. However, he emphasized that the problem is much greater and more complex than individual companies. He called for a serious effort to navigate the network of perverse incentives throughout the healthcare system, including insurance benefit design, price transparency, regulatory barriers, intellectual property barriers, and the impact of government discount programs on commercial patients.

The senator highlighted the need for a thorough investigation of other countries' healthcare systems before cherry-picking examples of their supposed superiority. He mentioned Canada's struggle with specialty care and cited a case where a Canadian woman had to pay for her own treatment in the United States after being denied access to chemotherapy. Cassidy pointed out that while Canadians may pay less for drugs, public health insurance in Canada only covers 21 percent of newly developed drugs, a stark contrast to the United States.

Cassidy expressed concern about the lack of seriousness and cynicism in the hearing, noting that the minority party was denied the opportunity to have a witness on the panel. He criticized the chair for denying the presence of an academic expert in drug pricing who could provide unbiased and substantive input. Cassidy argued that the hearing had devolved into a CEO "whack a mole" game with little to show.

In conclusion, Cassidy called for genuine efforts to address the high cost of prescription drugs through meaningful legislation. He emphasized the importance of crafting bills that can be signed into law, rather than using hearings as photo opportunities or social media clips. Cassidy expressed his willingness, along with his colleagues, to work on PBM reforms and generic drugs to lower drug prices for constituents.

The hearing may have fallen short of its intended purpose, but Cassidy remains hopeful that the committee can come together and make a real difference for the people they serve.

For all news and updates from HELP Republicans, visit their website or follow them on Twitter at @GOPHELP.