Bill would increase drug prices on Illinois families
For nearly 70 years, Casa Central has been transforming lives and serving Latino communities in Chicago. It’s an impactful legacy and one that we’re proud to carry on.
Every day, our staff listens to the needs of the community and works tirelessly to try to meet those needs. There is no shortage of challenges for the families we serve. Over the years, we’ve heard from an increasing number of families that the stress of affording health care and prescription drugs is becoming just too much to bear. The data backs this up. A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that Latino adults are less likely than other Americans to have health insurance and to receive preventive medical care. Racial discrimination, poverty, and language barriers — all exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic — have contributed to poor health outcomes for our community.
That’s why I am so concerned to learn that state lawmakers are currently considering HB 4548, a bill that will raise the overall cost of prescription drugs in Illinois. This legislation will add a $10.49 fee to most prescriptions filled at the pharmacy counter. That’s more than $600 in new health care costs each year for a family with five prescriptions.
Our lawmakers should do everything in their power to make prescription drugs more affordable, not more expensive. This starts with protecting pharmacy benefits, a tool that small businesses, unions and other employers rely on to keep medications affordable for their employees. Under the very same bill that would add the $10-plus fee, lower-cost home delivery options would be outlawed — to the detriment of families and seniors.
I’m calling on our lawmakers to focus on making our health care system more equitable for all by protecting pharmacy benefits and rejecting HB 4548.
Martin R. Castro, CEO
Chicago