America doesn’t have to be Big Pharma’s profit center

As former congressmen from opposite sides of the aisle, we rarely agree on healthcare policy. But one thing we do agree on is that, for far too long, the price of healthcare, especially prescription drugs, has been unaffordable for Americans. The question before Congress is whether that finally changes.

Every month, millions of Americans face choices no one should have to make on whether to fill a prescription or pay rent, whether to take a full dose or stretch a month’s supply into two. We both understand that healthcare affordability is a kitchen-table issue, especially when families across the country struggle to make ends meet as the cost of living rises in our country.

Not only do high drug prices strain family budgets, but they also make it harder for patients to take their medications as prescribed. That leads to poorer health, more hospitalizations, and up to $500 billion annually in avoidable healthcare costs. Sadly, this is of little to no concern to Big Pharma, which has a profit-first, patient-last mindset.

In fact, the U.S. generates 75 percent of Big Pharma’s global profits even though we represent just 5 percent of the global population. Essentially, the pharmaceutical industry knows they make their money in the U.S., which is why they charge us more than three times what patients in other wealthy countries pay for the same medications. It’s also why they routinely accept dramatically lower........

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