State Senate Advances Legislation to Protect Access to Affordable Health Care, Lower Prescription Drug Costs

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Official release

Source material from New York Senate. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

Today, the New York State Senate passed legislation to lower prescription drug costs, expand health care access, and promote health equity, as Washington continues to cut funding for critical healthcare programs. The package includes legislation that would ban anticompetitive pay-for-delay agreements, that compensate drug manufacturers at the expense of consumers; ensure rebates are distributed equitably and in a timely manner to patients; and mandate health insurance policies cover diabetes-related health screenings. Also included in the package is “The New York State Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act.” If signed into law, New York would become the second state in the nation to pursue its own drug manufacturing to lower costs and protect against short supplies.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “At a time when Washington has cut $7.5 billion in annual funding for New York’s Essential Plan, risking health care coverage for millions of New Yorkers, we continue to stand up for patients. We remain committed to expanding health care coverage, reducing the cost of prescription drugs, and making health care more affordable. Today’s package would make New York the second state in the nation to undertake its own drug manufacturing, ensure patients receive prescription drug rebates, expand diabetes and prediabetes screening coverage, and ban pay-for-delay agreements in order to lower prescription drug costs. These bills reflect our Senate Majority’s commitment to improving health outcomes for every New Yorker in need. I thank the sponsors for their leadership.”

Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, and bill sponsor, Senator Gustavo Rivera said, "I am honored to support this legislative package, that includes my New York Affordable Manufacturing Act (S.1618), a bill that would allow direct partnership with drug manufacturers to produce generic drugs and significantly lower the costs for customers. I want to thank the Leader and my colleagues for prioritizing policies that will help New Yorkers access affordable healthcare.”

Release text attributed to New York Senate. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.