Schakowsky: Republicans are ‘burying their heads in the sand' on prescription drug costs

Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee considered 64 bills dealing with the opioid epidemic, a crisis affecting communities all around the nation. In those communities, emergency medical personnel, first responders and even the public are being encouraged to stock naloxone – an opioid overdose reversal drug that can literally mean the difference between life and death for patients.

As with many other life-saving drugs, the costs of naloxone, which has been on the market since 1971, are exorbitant and growing dramatically as the need increases and pharmaceutical corporations see an opportunity to profit. A 10-mililiter vial costs close to $150, more than double its price from even a few years ago, and far beyond the production costs of the naloxone chemical. Kaleo, the pharmaceutical corporation that produces the brand-name naloxone Evizio, has raised its twin-pack price from $690 in 2014 to $4,500 – a 500% increase.

During today’s markup, Rep. Jan Schakowsky offered two separate amendments dealing with the skyrocketing costs of naloxone, both of which were blocked by Republicans on the subcommittee. Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement:

“The high costs of naloxone are straining the budgets of patients, families, and local governments, and they will undoubtedly result in this life-saving drug not being available to save lives. Yet, my Republican colleagues on the Health Subcommittee are refusing to address the high price of naxolone – just as they have refused to address the other prescription drugs whose high costs are plaguing American families.

“Not only did none of today’s 64 bills deal with drug prices – Republicans refused to consider to two amendments I offered to make up for that failure. My first amendment would have given the Secretary of Health and Human Services the ability to negotiate the price of naloxone– an ability that I believe the Secretary should have for all drugs. Republicans blocked that amendment on procedural grounds.

“The second simply called for HHS to conduct a study into the causes of Naloxone’s rising cost. Every single Republican in the subcommittee opposed it. Apparently, they believe they can bury their heads in the sand when it comes to the soaring costs of drugs that we need to prevent Americans from dying from opioid overdoses.

“Republicans aren’t even willing to hear the truth about prescription drug costs, let alone do anything substantial to curb them. I wish I could say I was surprised.”

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