Where does the money go in rising prescription drug costs?

Bill being drafted in Wisconsin would reveal reasoning

When the Wisconsin legislature returns next year, one bill looks to be very interesting to the public.

It’s a bill that would force the state insurance commissioner to publicly reveal why prescription drug costs go up so quickly.

“It requires the insurance commissioner’s office to get a list of high-value drugs that are very important to the treatment of chronic diseases, or life-threatening diseases,” Robert Kraig, director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, explained, “and to look at their prices and compare them to what it cost to produce the drug (and) how much is spent on marketing – both to doctors and consumers.”

Kraig added that pricing a drug beyond what a patient can afford amounts to a denial of health care.

Prescription drug prices have gone up 10 percent in the past year, according to the group, and it claims Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s administration is doing nothing to stop it.

Janesville Representative Debra Kolste is sponsoring the bill that could lead to prescription drug cost regulation.

“There’s a reason why utilities are regulated and, more importantly, why they can’t shut off heat in the winter,” Kolste said, “Because of loss of life resulting from the cold.

“So, it is with drug costs, the loss of life due to (someone) not being able to afford a drug is just simply wrong.”

Kolste says a recent poll shows that 80 percent of those surveyed want drug prices to be controlled.

The legislature has already ended its session for the year, so Kolste will introduce her plan early in 2017.