Kuster’s Q&A can be watched here.

Yesterday, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, highlighted the need for Congress to take action to lower prescription drug costs and encourage accountability in the pharmaceutical industry. At the Subcommittee hearing titled, “Improving Drug Pricing Transparency and Lowering Prices for American Consumers,” Kuster questioned Mark Miller, Executive Vice President of Health Care at Arnold Ventures about the impact greater transparency in drug pricing and direct negotiation of volume discounts by Medicare could have on the affordability of prescription drugs.

“When I speak to Granite Staters, the high price of prescription drugs is a constant concern,” said Kuster. “Congress must take additional action so all Americans can afford the medications they need and not have to worry about paying for other essentials, like food and housing. Enforcing greater transparency in drug pricing and allowing Medicare to directly negotiate a volume discount with pharmaceutical companies are steps we can take to help lower costs. I’m encouraged by the work the Energy and Commerce Committee is doing to make prescription drugs more affordable and I will continue my efforts to ensure everyone can access quality healthcare.”

Kuster has been vocal about the need to reduce the costs of prescription drugs and has called for the direct negotiation of Medicare with pharmaceutical companies to reduce prices. Kuster has made clear the need to make improvements to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and has put forward solutions to improve access to affordable healthcare. On the Energy and Commerce Committee, she has called out the Trump Administration for sabotaging the ACA and highlighted the potential impact of President Trump’s policies on individuals with pre-existing conditions like Bodhi Bhattarai of Contoocook, New Hampshire. Her legislation, the Protecting Americans with Pre-existing Conditions Act, has been passed in the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.

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