FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing on the Impact of High Prescription Drug Prices

Original title: THE PATIENT PERSPECTIVE: THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS OF SKYROCKETING DRUG PRICES ON AMERICAN FAMILIES

January 1, 2019

prescription drug prices healthcare costs pharmaceutical industry patient advocacy congressional oversight

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing serves as a formal record of patient experiences to inform potential legislative action regarding pharmaceutical pricing and healthcare affordability.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Patients

Individuals who face financial challenges or health risks due to the cost of prescription medications.

Pharmaceutical Companies

Entities whose pricing models and profit margins are the subject of the committee's oversight investigation.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform held a hearing on July 26, 2019, to examine the financial and personal impact of rising prescription drug costs on American families. Five patients and family members provided testimony regarding their struggles to afford life-saving medications.

Key Facts

The hearing was held on July 26, 2019, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
The committee heard testimony from five witnesses: David Mitchell, Ashley Krege, Laura McLinn, Sa'Ra Skipper, and Pam Holt.
Chairman Cummings stated that one in four Americans struggle to afford their prescription medications.
The Chairman alleged that pharmaceutical companies account for one-quarter of the healthcare industry but collect over half of its profits.
The hearing record includes a statement from Rep. Connolly and letters from the National Hispanic Medical Association and the Initiative for Medicines Access and Knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?

To gather testimony from patients about the personal and financial challenges caused by high prescription drug prices.

Who testified at the hearing?

Five individuals shared their personal experiences: David Mitchell, Ashley Krege, Laura McLinn, Sa'Ra Skipper, and Pam Holt.

Why It Matters

This hearing serves as a formal record of patient experiences to inform potential legislative action regarding pharmaceutical pricing and healthcare affordability.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on Patient Testimony

The committee utilized personal patient narratives as a primary mechanism to frame the legislative debate on drug pricing.

Committee on Oversight and Reform

Connected Entities

personPam Holt“Witness, patient”Map →

organizationCommittee on Oversight and Reform“House committee conducting the hearing”Map →

personElijah E. Cummings“Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform”Map →

personDavid Mitchell“Witness, Founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs”Map →

personSa'Ra Skipper“Witness, patient”Map →

personLaura McLinn“Witness, mother of a patient”Map →

personAshley Krege“Witness, patient”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment20
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

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