FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kenza Hadj-Moussa
612-386-9556 or kenza@takeactionminnesota.org
February 15, 2021
MEDIA ADVISORY
Tuesday at 10:30: Attorney General Keith Ellison, Rep. Morrison, Sen. Franzen and patients to call for action on prescription drug costs ahead of Prescription Drug Affordability Board bill hearing
SAINT PAUL, Minn–Tomorrow, February 16 at 10:30 a.m. Attorney General Keith Ellison, Rep. Kelly Morrison, Sen. Franzen and patient advocates will call for legislative action to lower prescription drug costs at a virtual press conference. At 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the House Commerce Committee will take up a bill to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. The Board is a top strategy of the Attorney General’s Task Force on Lowering Pharmaceutical Drug Costs and Blue Ribbon Commission on Health & Human Services.
WHAT: Virtual press conference
WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 16
WHO:
- Attorney General Keith Ellison
- State Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL – Deephaven), chief author of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (HF801)
- State Sen. Melisa Franzen (DFL – Edina), chief author
- Jessica Intermill, patient advocate
- Travis Paulson, patient advocate
WHERE: Zoom; RSVP to kenza@takeactionminnesota.org for the registration link
BACKGROUND: From insulin to cancer treatment, high drug costs affect patients and force insurers to raise premiums on all of us. 1 in 5 Minnesotans has forgone prescription medicine in the last year due to cost (Health Care Value Hub, Nov. 2020). Prescription Drug Affordability Boards can set upper payment limits on certain high cost drugs to help patients, payers, purchasers, and providers address this growing crisis. Six states have enacted Prescription Drug Affordability Boards and 11 are exploring legislation (Manatt Health, Oct. 2020). In addition to the Board, lawmakers are considering legislation to expand the Attorney General’s authority to address price-gouging of prescription drugs (HF844) and to negotiate the price of publicly purchased prescription drugs (HF8). Over 85% of Minnesotans support state action to lower prescription drug costs (Health Care Value Hub, Nov. 2020).
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TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide, independent, multiracial people’s organization working to advance democracy and equity through organizing, political action, and campaigns. Offices are located in St. Paul, St. Cloud, and Duluth.