WASHINGTON _ The controversy over the cost of EpiPens is prompting a bipartisan effort to force drugmakers to detail their costs before they increase prices by more than 10 percent.
Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., say the effort will cut through opaque pricing practices and provide information about treatments that are sometimes developed with taxpayer dollars.
"Prescription drug corporations should not be allowed to hide behind a curtain, refusing to disclose information on drug prices and price gouging with impunity," Schakowsky said.
Over the past five years, pharmaceutical companies have taken heat for raising the prices of some top-selling drugs. EpiPen manufacturer Mylan raised the cost of a package of two EpiPen Auto-Injectors from around $100 to over $600.
"The American people should not be forced to choose between filling a prescription or making their monthly mortgage payment," said McCain.
The bill would make manufacturers of certain drugs submit a report detailing manufacturing, research and development costs, net profits and how much they spend on advertising on a particular medicine 30 days before any price increase in excess of 10 percent. The actual prices would not be regulated by the bill.
John Rother, the executive director for the Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing, said the effort is a first step in repairing the broken prescription drug market.
"For the millions of Americans who depend on life-saving medicines, open and honest prescription drug pricing is critical," said Rother.
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