According to the article below, many of the U.S. states have already taken, or are now considering, measures to help lower prescript
ion drug costs.
From the article:
"So far this year, 33 states have enacted a record 51 laws to address drug prices, affordability and access."
"Among the new measures are those that authorize importing prescription drugs, screening for excessive price increases by drug companies and establishing oversight boards to set the prices states will pay for drugs."
"In New Jersey alone, some 20 proposed laws are under consideration."
"Both Democrat and Republican leaders have shown a willingness to pursue strong measures that help consumers."
"The pharmaceutical industry has opposed most, though not all, state bills ... "we agree that what consumers now pay for drugs out-of-pocket is a serious problem,” said (an industry spokesperson)."I found this especially interesting:
"Most of the new laws ban “gag clauses” that some PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) impose on pharmacists. The clauses, written into pharmacy contracts, stop pharmacists from discussing with customers whether a drug’s cash price would be lower than its out-of-pocket cost under insurance."So importation of cheaper drugs from abroad, increasing price transparency, and establishment of state-level monitoring boards to oversee costs of drugs, especially increases, are measures either being considered, or in some cases already in place, in several of the states.
So it does look like there really is hope that the state legislatures may actually be playing a part in lowering drug prices for their citizens. This is no doubt largely because doing so would be in their own financial self-interest, since the costs to the states of things like state employee drug plans, Medicaid, and other drug-related costs can be significant.
Of course, as noted above, the pharmaceutical industry will resist, but it's a hopeful sign that the states may genuinely be attempting to help, and not just submitting to drug industry pressure to do nothing.
A good read:
https://khn.org/news/states-pass-record-number-of-laws-to-reel-in-drug-prices/(In particular, when you click on the above link, then click on its sublink "enacted a record 51 laws" to see what the individual states have done)