House Republicans pass prescription price ploy opposed by Democrats

In a narrow vote of 211 to 208, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 485, also known as the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act, on February 7, 2024.

The bill claims to prohibit federal health programs from utilizing discriminatory measures such as Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) in determining patient care, but Republican lawmakers were criticized by Democrats who say that it would hinder the federal government’s ability to negotiate fair prices for prescription drugs.

Led by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO), Rep. Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), and Rep. Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH), the legislation garnered support from Republicans who emphasized the importance of valuing every human life and preventing patients from being reduced to mere financial considerations.

Rodgers asserted, “Every human life has value. The government should not be mercilessly placing a dollar value on someone’s life and denying care just because they have a disability or chronic illness.”

Smith echoed this sentiment, stating, “Bureaucrats in Washington and across the country are trying to put a price tag on life.”

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers, including Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), voiced strong opposition to the bill, arguing that it was a veiled attempt to undermine efforts to lower prescription drug costs for American families.

Pallone criticized the legislation and stated, “This bill is nothing more than a giveaway to Big Pharma at the expense of the American people and our nation’s public health.” He raised concerns about the ambiguity in the bill’s language, which he feared could lead to litigation by the pharmaceutical industry and ultimately result in increased prescription drug prices.

The bill’s passage follows a vote in which New Jersey representatives split along party lines, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats opposing it.

Notably, all of New Jersey’s Democratic lawmakers except Andy Kim voted against the bill, while GOP Representatives Tom Kean, Jeff Van Drew, and Chris Smith supported it.

The White House issued a statement expressing opposition to H.R. 485, citing concerns about its potential to undermine the Affordable Care Act and strip funding from the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

The White House emphasized its commitment to combatting discrimination against people with disabilities in healthcare and ensuring access to affordable and effective treatments.

As the bill heads to the Senate for consideration, its passage remains uncertain, with partisan divisions likely to shape the debate over its merits and potential implications for healthcare policy in the United States.