Every Louisianan deserves access to affordable, life-saving medications, but the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs place an unbearable burden on families, especially seniors and those with chronic conditions. I support enacting constitutionally sound mechanisms to lower prescription drug prices in Louisiana, ensuring that no one has to choose between their health and their financial stability.
To achieve this, I will advocate for:
- Prescription Drug Price Transparency: Requiring pharmaceutical companies to disclose pricing practices, including research and development costs, marketing expenses, and profit margins, to shed light on unjustified price increases.
- Bulk Purchasing and Negotiation: Allowing Louisiana to join or establish a multi-state prescription drug purchasing pool to negotiate lower prices from manufacturers, leveraging the collective buying power of our state and others.
- Pharmaceutical Cost Review Boards: Establishing an independent board to monitor drug prices and cap the cost of excessively high-priced medications where feasible under federal law.
- Importation Programs: Exploring legal pathways for importing safe and affordable prescription drugs from countries like Canada, where prices are significantly lower, consistent with federal guidelines.
These policies are grounded in fairness and accountability, ensuring that drug prices reflect value and affordability, not corporate greed. Louisiana has the opportunity to lead in addressing this crisis, putting people’s health above profit and ensuring access to medications for all.