AARP on NY Prescription Drug Reform Bill

This May 15 Statement is old but helps give some insight into how AARP will lobby
for Prescription Drug reform and transparency in the future.   Under an Obama administration
we can expect more Government involvement in the drug industry and probably a stance
on transparency that is likely to be closer to AARP's vision than has been the case
in the Bush Administration.

AARP Statement on New York Bill for Prescription Drug Marketing Reform and Transparency

AARP commends Governor Paterson's leadership in proposing prescription drug
marketing reform and transparency

ALBANY, N.Y., May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP strongly believes New
York has a paramount interest in passing the Governor's prescription marketing
reform proposals which address the undue influence that pharmaceutical
companies have over prescribing decisions that affect not only consumers'
pocket books but the treatment they receive.

The reforms include banning gifts of over $50 (excluding free samples) to
doctors and requiring speakers at continuing medical education programs for
health professionals to disclose any financial relationships they might have
with a drug company.  

AARP strongly supports provisions in the proposed legislation to make the
business transactions of pharmaceutical benefit managers (PBMs) more
transparent in order to drive down the cost of prescription drugs.

We strongly encourage the New York State Legislature to pass this legislation
that would help so many New Yorkers before the end of the legislative session.
The pharmaceutical industry should not dictate prescription drug policy in
our State.  The Legislature must reject the opposition from the drug industry
and do the right thing for their constituents. 

The Governor's bill will increase a New Yorker's ability to access affordable
prescription drugs and improve the quality of their healthcare.  In addition,
this legislation would help all taxpayers who fund public prescription drug
programs, such as Medicaid and EPIC.

According to a January 2006 article in the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA), titled "Health Industry Practices That Create Conflicts of
Interest," approximately 90% of the $21 billion pharmaceutical industry
marketing budget continues to be directed at physicians.

When a drug company sales representative walks into a doctor's office armed
with gifts and promotes a drug company's newest, most expensive drugs, New
Yorkers - whether as patients or taxpayers - may not always obtain the most
beneficial and cost-effective drug available.

For several years, AARP has been tracking the price of prescription drugs.
AARP's Rx Watchdog reports have revealed startling trends over the past six
years.  Brand name prescription drug costs are steadily rising at close to
double and even triple the rate of inflation.

AARP firmly believes that evidence-based research should be the guide to
prescribing the most effective prescription drugs, not gifts from
manufacturers to physicians.  Drugs should be prescribed based on their
effectiveness in treating a medical condition - not because they are new and
in many cases more expensive.

AARP New York Contact:  Kristin Legere, 518-447-6723