Discussed price transparency and lowering costs of prescription drugs

Senator Scott Jensen (R-Chaska) was invited to Washington, D.C. to address the National Governor’s Association (NGA) Pharmaceutical Summit on December 11-12, 2018 regarding legislation he is introducing during the 2019 session. He presented summaries of his bills and participated in a panel to analyze various legislative approaches for reining in prescription drug prices. John O’Brien, the Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Drug Pricing Reform at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Representative Norm Thurston (R-Utah) joined Senator Jensen at the summit. 

“As the 2019 legislative session begins, I’m committed to addressing the dramatic increase in prescription drug costs and reaching out to legislators of both parties to encourage real action,” said Senator Jensen. “From gag clauses that prevent pharmacists from talking openly with their patients, to the ever-increasing costs of select medications such as insulin, there are numerous issues I intend to tackle. These issues are being discussed in St. Paul and were the topic of conversation during the NGA Summit.” 

Senator Jensen is committed to addressing numerous issues in the coming session including prescription drug costs, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) authority, contractual gag clauses, and transparency in medication pricing. Together, these issues represent the fastest growing cost driver in our healthcare system today. 

“Prescription drug costs undermine our entire health care system,” added Senator Jensen. “Until we legislate with courage, the challenging conundrum of healthcare costs versus people’s real needs will go unsolved.”

A practicing medical doctor, Senator Jensen is currently building bipartisan support for his proposals.  Jensen serves as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Health Care Consumer Access and Affordability and Vice-Chair of the powerful Health and Human Services Committee.