In the first PA-07 congressional debate, Lisa Scheller said she wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which provides coverage to about 1.1 million Pennsylvanians. When pressed about how she would protect Pennsylvanians with pre-existing conditions or address the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, Scheller failed to offer a viable alternative.
“Lisa Scheller’s comments are a disturbing reminder that corrupt politicians will do and say anything to please party bosses and corporate special interests at the expense of everyday people,” said Tiffany Muller, president of End Citizens United. “Why is Scheller intent on gutting protections for Pennsylvanians with pre-existing conditions during a pandemic? It’s because the health insurance industry and Big Pharma are demanding it.”
Unlike Scheller, Congresswoman Susan Wild has a real record of working to strengthen the ACA and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. She made a promise to stand up to Big Pharma, and that’s exactly what she did when she helped pass the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R.3). This is a bold, critical bill that would significantly lower the cost of prescription drug prices for millions of Pennsylvanians by granting Medicare new powers to negotiate annual prices for the 250 most expensive drugs on the market. It would make the lower drug prices negotiated by Medicare available to Americans with private insurance. It would stop drug companies from ripping off Americans while charging other countries less for the same drugs.
Here’s what that means for the Greater Lehigh Valley and the state of Pennsylvania:
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Diabetes: Pennsylvania patients could save $15,000 off the average total cost of the insulin NovoLOG Flexpen per year;
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Breast Cancer: Pennsylvania patients could save $45,100 off the average total cost of the breast cancer medication Ibrance per year;
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Leukemia: Pennsylvania patients could save $66,300 off the average total cost of the leukemia medication Tasigna per year;
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Prostate Cancer: Pennsylvania patients could save $72,100 off the average total cost of the prostate cancer medication Zytiga per year;
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Arthritis: Pennsylvania patients could save $30,000 off their total costs on most arthritis drugs per year;
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Asthma: Pennsylvania patients could save $1,130 off their total costs on most Asthma drugs per year;
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HIV/AIDS: Pennsylvania patients could save $9,000 off their total costs on most HIV/AIDS drugs per year;
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Multiple Sclerosis: Pennsylvania patients could save $27,000 off their total costs on most MS drugs per year.
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Dental, Vision, Hearing: H.R.3 would also reinvest nearly half a trillion in savings into expanding Medicare coverage for dental, vision, and hearing services.
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