[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 83 (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             WHY WE NEED TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 25, 2016

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the following 
article, written by Heather Block. I encourage all of my colleagues to 
read this short and powerful piece, which provides us with yet another 
personal testimony highlighting the need to lower the price of 
prescription drugs and support the Medicare Part B Demonstration 
Project proposed by CMS. In this article, Ms. Block describes ``what it 
is like to have stage 4 cancer, and to fear bankruptcy as much as 
cancer due to our health system and the lack of drug pricing 
regulation''. Sadly, her story is not unique. Across this country, 
millions of people who are already facing devastating health issues 
suddenly find themselves in dire financial straits due to the cost of 
prescription drugs. Let us not forsake the wellbeing of the many for 
the financial gain of the very few. I ask you to join me in taking the 
side of people like Heather by supporting CMS's proposal.
     Pharma Can Buy Time. I Can't.


                       HEATHER BLOCK may 23, 2016

       I testified before the House Energy and Commerce 
     Committee's Subcommittee on Health last week. It was a big 
     deal for me. As I told my brother, I want my niece to know 
     that we can speak to the powers that be--even individuals 
     like me, without any group or organization to back me up. I 
     want her to know that our voices can still be heard in 
     America.
       I testified about what it is like to have stage 4 cancer, 
     and to fear bankruptcy as much as cancer due to our health 
     system and the lack of drug pricing regulation. I also said 
     that I support a Medicare proposal to evaluate ways to lower 
     drug costs. It would reduce financial incentives that could 
     encourage doctors to use more expensive drugs, while trying 
     several different approaches that would improve quality of 
     care and potentially cut drug costs for taxpayers and 
     patients.
       I felt like most of the Representatives had already made up 
     their minds. Probably not due to the actual proposal, but to 
     the pressures placed by groups that would lose money if the 
     so-called Medicare Part B Demo is launched. I joked before I 
     testified that I might ask, ``Could anyone that doesn't 
     receive any money from the pharmaceutical industry, raise 
     their hands,'' and that I would probably be the only one with 
     a hand raised in the room.
       Turns out my joke wasn't that far off-base. Imagine my 
     surprise when Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) pointed 
     out that two of the five witnesses had several pages of 
     identical testimony--identical down to the highlights. What 
     that says to me is that the pharmaceutical industry lobbyists 
     are so confident of their power that they can be sloppy.
       I do not have that luxury. I have limited time; no one 
     knows how much with stage 4 cancer and certainly limited 
     means. My friends jokingly call me ``Dona Quixote.'' But I 
     feel urgency around the issue, and I do appreciate 
     Representative Peter Welch for pointing out this urgency.
       I know I cannot be alone. Other patients are slowly being 
     bled dry by the cost of our life saving drugs
       While the Medicare Part B Demo will not solve the problem 
     of high prescription drug spending, it's at least a 
     thoughtful step in the right direction. I hope to keep 
     pushing and reminding everyone of the urgency of this issue. 
     Americans recognize that the cost of drugs is not sustainable 
     but no one knows what to do. And so far, no one knows how to 
     overcome the money and power being mobilized by the drug 
     companies to keep their profits high, even as patients go 
     bankrupt
       While the Medicare Part B demo may not be perfect, it's at 
     least a step in the right direction when everyone else seems 
     to be more interested in standing still.
       Let's proceed.
       Heather Block served as a witness for the Energy and 
     Commerce's Health committee hearing on the proposed Medicare 
     Part B Payment Demonstration Project on May 17, 2016.

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