[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 72 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM OF RISING 
                        PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Berry) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, recently I introduced legislation to create a 
commission that will report to the Congress on the problem of rising 
prescription drug prices. The commission will do much needed research 
into how we can change public policy to ensure the affordability of 
prescription drugs.
  Prescription drugs are the highest out-of-pocket expenses for three 
out of four elderly patients. Recent price increases for generic 
pharmaceuticals have been as severe as 4,000 percent. One thousand 
tablets of Chlorapropamide, a medication that is necessary to sustain 
life for diabetics, has gone from $19.45 to $306.66 this year.
  All other segments of the health care industry have contributed 
greatly to bringing down health care costs. Since 1980, the cost of 
pharmaceuticals have risen over 2\1/2\ times the rate of inflation. 
Everyone is affected by these increases through insurance costs, 
government reimbursements, not just the uninsured.
  Considering the Federal Government's and taxpayers' rather large 
public investment in the pharmaceutical industry through the form of 
tax incentives, tax write-offs, and grants, some discipline in making 
responsible pricing decisions should be expected.
  The industry had over $6 billion in annual deductions for promotional 
activity before the FDA recently decided to relax direct marketing 
restrictions. This commission will lay a foundation on which to build 
policy that keeps prescription drugs reasonably priced.
  The commission will look into why American consumers are paying much 
more than those in other countries, why increases are out of line with 
inflation of other goods. It is time for the Congress to act 
responsibly and ensure that corporate greed does not get in the way of 
our seniors having affordable health care.
  This legislation is fair and evenhanded, and something our senior 
citizens and the public deserve. I encourage Members to support this 
bill.

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