[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 7, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3464-H3465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES

  (Mr. ALLRED asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ALLRED. Mr. Speaker, I received a letter recently from Paul 
Rozinsky of Richardson, Texas. Paul is 81 and uses Medicare Advantage. 
He has type 2 diabetes.
  In his letter, he says that there are two identical versions of 
insulin; one is

[[Page H3465]]

$140 and the other is $24.88, made on a special contract for Walmart. 
Paul can't get access to the cheaper drug because it isn't on the 
insurer's drug list.
  He wrote to his insurer about an exception to his tiered pricing so 
that he could qualify for the cheaper version. They rejected it with a 
note, saying: ``We apologize for the inconvenience.''
  That is unacceptable and far too common. In fact, one in four 
patients with diabetes are rationing their insulin because of higher 
costs.
  We must do better for Paul and millions like him who need access to 
cheaper medicines. This Congress must act and sign into legislation law 
that lowers costs and simplifies the process so it is easy to use.
  Access to healthcare shouldn't be a partisan issue. I call on my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together and get 
something done this year to address the cost of prescription drugs.

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