[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 21]
[House]
[Page 28540]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICING

  (Mr. MURPHY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, Americans purchase 68 percent more 
prescription drugs today than they did just 10 years ago, and at the 
same time, retail prescription prices have risen three times the rate 
of inflation.
  How can people afford the medication they need? Some propose price 
controls, others want the government to pay, but let us also give the 
power to the patient. Whether we are buying groceries or clothes or 
cars or even airline tickets, when consumers can compare prices they 
can drive those prices down. Why not do the same for prescription 
drugs?
  Today, many State governments are setting up Web sites for consumers 
to compare drug prices in their area. These Internet sites help 
patients to shop smarter and get more affordable choices. One study 
found that Web sites offering drug comparisons can save patients as 
much as 40 percent. Congress should support public-private partnerships 
for sharing online information to help lower these costs for consumers. 
I urge my colleagues to learn more about how informed consumers can 
lower their costs on prescription drugs by visiting my Web site at 
murphy.house.gov.

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