Advocates say Congress could take meaningful steps to lower prescription drug prices

Glen: THANKS FOR STAYING WITH US. I'M GLEN MILLS. Surae: I'M SURAE CHINN. RISING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES ARE PUTTING SENIORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN UTAH IN A BIND. Glen: THAT'S WHY ADVOCACY GROUPS ARE CALLING ON CONGRESS TO TAKE BOLD STEP TO SAY GET COSTS IN CHECK. PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES ARE SKYR SKYR SKYRO SKYROCKETING! TO THE POINT IT'S GETTING OUT OF REACH FOR SOME. SENIORS ARE THE HARDEST HIT. MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES ARE CHOOSING WHETHER OR NOT TO BUY GROCERIES, PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS, OR WHETHER TO PURCHASE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. Glen: AARP UTAH IS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON HOW LAWMAKERS ARE RESPONDING ON BEHALF OF SENIORS IN YOUR STATE. THERE'S A LOT OF IDEAS BEING FLOATED. BUT AARP SAYS SOME OF THE PROPOSALS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS WHEN IT COMES TO TRULY DRIVING DOWN COSTS. THEY SAY ALLOWING MEDICARE TO NEGOTIATE PRICES WOULD MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. DANNY HARRIS SAYS THE PROGRAM SPENDS $129 BILLION A YEAR ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. HE SAYS MASS QUANTITY PROVIDES LEVERAGE. CONGRESS SHOULD GIVE MED CARE THAT AUTHORITY SO THEY CAN NEGOTIATE ON BRAND NAME DRUGS THAT AMERICANS ARE PAYING TWICE AS MUCH FROM AS OTHER COUNTRIES. Glen: THE KEY IS ACCESS GENERIC DRUGS AND AN EFFORT TO ELIMINATE A COMMON PRACTICE WILL GO A LONG WAY. WE'D LIKE TO SEE CONGRESS BAN PAPER DELAY AGREEMENTS, WHERE BRAND NAME DRUG MANUFACTURERS ARE ESSENTIALLY PAYING GENERIC MANUFACTURERS TO NOT PRODUCE GENERIC DRUGS. Glen: AARP BACKS EFFORTS TO IMPORT CHEAPER DRUGS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. STATE REPRESENTATIVE THURSTON

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