Reject SB 11 today!!!

I am writing with concerns about SB 11 because if passed it aims to double down on new, unproven federal legislation that doesn’t take into account the needs of Connecticut patients.

SB 11 could limit insurers and pharmacies from obtaining certain medicines in the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program—part of the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed by the Biden Administration.

Since the IRA provision’s passage, patients and health care providers have raised concerns about putting artificial prices—called Maximum Fair Prices (MFP)– on needed medications and the unintended consequences that could limit access and deter further innovation for new treatments.

The federal pricing doesn’t even go into effect until next year—there’s no way to know what kind of impact it could have on patients.  That’s a big risk to Connecticut residents.

SB 11 will not translate into savings for patients at the pharmacy counter, because those prices are set by Pharmacy Benefit Managers—who are widely unregulated and under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for accusations of driving up drug costs and limiting patient access to medications.

States like Connecticut need to explore options that actually help real people afford their medications.  I ask you to reject SB 11.