Boswell Offers Amendment to Lower Prescription Drug Costs

Leonard Boswell

Des Moines, IA – Congressman Leonard Boswell (IA-3) today submitted an amendment to H.R. 3010, the Regulatory Accountability Act.

Boswell’s amendment, offered as a Motion to Recommit, would prevent the bill from creating regulatory hurdles for low cost prescription drugs.

“We have done too much to support America’s seniors and improve health care today to let regulations increase costs on our citizens or jeopardize their access to care,” Boswell said in his floor statement. “Nationwide, we have provided greater access to health services for Medicare beneficiaries and reduced their costs by allowing access to discounted drugs in Medicare Part D.”

“We sent checks to seniors this year who hit the Part D donut hole – and we made a commitment to close it by 2020. We must continue to aid our seniors and reduce the cost of their medicine – but we must also reduce this cost for our nation.”

Boswell’s amendment would also ensure the Secretaries of Defense, Veterans Affairs, or Health and Human Services are not prevented from negotiating for lower drug prices.

“Not only will this amendment defend the right of these agencies to ensure the best prices for our veterans and military families – it will protect any future provision that would provide the Secretary of Health and Human Services that same power to serve nearly 30 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries, and make medicine more affordable,” Boswell continued.

“Our constituents know what a driving force health costs are in our nation’s spending crisis. They feel it every day in their own homes and do all they can to get by.”