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Lawmakers Want To Research Rising Costs Of Prescription Drugs

Graciela Guzman speaking about rising prescription drugs alongside (left) State Representative Will Guzzardi and (right) Dan Rabbitt of Heartland Alliance.
Mike Smith
/
NPR Illinois
Graciela Guzman speaking about rising prescription drugs alongside (left) State Representative Will Guzzardi and (right) Dan Rabbitt of Heartland Alliance.

Illinois lawmakers want to research the rising costs of prescription drugs, especially the price of prescription drugs.

Mike Smith reports.

State Rep. Will Guzzardi, a Democrat from Chicago, said healthcare is top of mind for many Illinoisans. He pointed to a recent survey in which more than half of respondents say the cost of healthcare is burdensome.

Guzzardi said soaring prescription prices are a big part of that.

“One in four people in this state in the last year went to their doctor and their doctor said, ‘you need this medication to be healthy,’ and they said, ‘I’m not going to take it because I can’t afford it,’” Guzzardi said. “We should be appalled by that number.”

Graciela Guzman said she was diagnosed with endometriosis and arthritis in college. She’s been taking prescription drugs for well over a decade, but said medicine can’t help her if she can’t afford it.

“One of my prescriptions rose from $68 to $500 and I found out at the counter,” Guzman said.

“The woman is trying to watch my face as I’m trying to figure out whether I’m going to start bawling there or in the bathroom as I’m having to decide whether I’m going to pay one of my bills that month or whether I’m going to forgo my prescriptions altogether.”

Guzzardi is pushing legislation that would create a board tasked with keeping tabs on the cost of prescription medicine and possibly setting price caps on certain drugs.

Copyright 2021 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS. To see more, visit NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS.

Mike Smith is the graduate Public Affairs Reporting intern for the spring 2020 legisltive session.