Say ‘no’ to new government mandates in health care system

As a resident of Cass County and as our county judge, I know the values and ideals our community cherishes. We believe in a free market and limited government intervention in all aspects of our economy and life. Unfortunately, certain Washington bureaucrats don’t seem to hold those same principles in high esteem. Most recently, some lawmakers have proposed policies that expand the government’s role in our health care system by targeting the pharmacy benefits that are essential to making sure prescription medications are affordable for our families.

Pharmacy benefit companies negotiate and secure rebates on the price of prescription drugs, resulting in savings for employers, patients, taxpayers, and families. They apply much-needed downward pressure in the supply chain, adding at least $192 billion annually in value to society. On average, they help save $1,040 per person per year, and save employers $878 annually on prescription drug costs.

Despite these indisputable facts borne out in multiple analyses, lawmakers like Bernie Sanders and AOC want to ignore the data-backed evidence so they can advance an agenda to grow the size and scope of government, with the ultimate goal of instituting a socialist health care system. These extreme left politicians would rather replace pharmacy benefit companies with the government so they can have control over drug prices and every aspect of our health care system.

One such proposal would ban market- based incentives by which pharmacy benefit companies are compensated based on how effective they are at securing rebates. These rebates are essential, as they determine how much employers can save when offering prescription drug benefits to employees and their families. Health plan sponsors, including small businesses, use these savings to lower premiums and provide other benefits that help each health care dollar go further for those enrolled in the plan.

Economists Alex Brill and Casey Mulligan found that these “delinking” policies would have a catastrophic effect on health care spending. Alex Brill estimated that “delinking” in the commercial market would increase premiums every year up to $26.6 billion. Dr. Mulligan found these kind of policies in the Medicare Part D program would result in increased federal spending up to a staggering $10 billion.

Mulligan explained: “Proposed ‘delinking’ legislation would prohibit Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) from being remunerated based on the rebates and discounts they negotiate for drug insurance plans serving Medicare beneficiaries. This policy would significantly change drug pricing and utilization and shift billions of dollars annually from patients and taxpayers to drug manufacturers and retail pharmacy companies.”

At the same time American patients and taxpayers are stuck with billions more in costs, big pharmaceutical companies will be getting a bailout of about $32 billion annually. When lawmakers in Washington try to advance big government policies that result in billions in new government spending and billions being transferred to Big Pharma, every freedom-loving Texan should ask their elected representatives on Capitol Hill to oppose such misguided proposals.

Families are struggling all over our nation with an economy that is forcing people to make hard choices about what they spend their money on. Some are stretching medicine by taking less than what is prescribed or not filling prescriptions at all due to affordability issues.

I sincerely hope that Senators Cornyn and Cruz, as well as all of our Representatives elected to fight for Texans in Washington, will oppose these new government mandates in our health care system and protect Americans from rising costs and irresponsible transfer of billions to big pharmaceutical companies. Let us all hope they remember the values we all hold dear as Texans.

Travis Ransom is the Cass County Judge.