CSRxP Applauds National Governors Association’s Commitment to Lowering Drug Prices

NGA’s “2019 Principles for Federal Action to Address Health Care Costs” Back Greater Competition, Boosted Transparency

Washington, D.C. – The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing (CSRxP) today released a statement in response to recommendations released by the National Governors Association (NGA) titled “2019 Principles for Federal Action to Address Health Care Costs.”

“We applaud America’s governors for working together in bipartisan collaboration to champion important guiding principles and critical market-based solutions to lower prescription drug prices in America,” said CSRxP executive director Lauren Aronson. “Many of the recommendations and principles outlined by the NGA strike at the core issue behind this crisis: The price-gouging, anti-competitive tactics of Big Pharma.”

“The momentum for action on prescription drug prices has never been greater and policymakers in Washington have made commendable strides on many solutions to increase competition and boost transparency,” Aronson added. “Lawmakers in Congress must keep up the momentum and continue to raise and advance bipartisan, market-based solutions to deliver relief for millions of American patients.”

Principles outlined by the NGA that are shared by CSRxP, include:

• “Congress and the Administration should foster greater transparency around pricing and payment dynamics for pharmaceuticals.”
• “Congress should enhance market competition through accelerated market entry of safe and effective generics and biosimilars.”

The NGA principles also include key, specific recommendations that have long been championed by CSRxP, including:

• “Prohibiting manufacturers from paying other producers for the delayed entry of generics and biosimilars into the market.”
• “Safely expediting the availability of generics and biosimilars through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process.”
• “Reducing ‘evergreening’ of drug exclusivity on existing drugs through new patents or extensions of patents that are of no therapeutic value.”

CSRxP encourages members of Congress to advance these, and other key market-based solutions, to lower prescription drug prices in America.

More on the legislative solutions supported by CSRxP can be found HERE.

The full NGA release can be found HERE.