MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives Green, Barnett (92nd), Broomfield, Brown, Cameron, Capps, Clarke, Coleman (29th), Davis, Denny, Eakes, Evans, Fredericks, Gadd, Gibbs, Henderson, Holloway, Huddleston, Jennings, Livingston, Maples, Martinson, McBride, Miles, Mitchell, Nettles, Peranich, Pierce, Read, Rushing, Scott (17th), Stevens, Taylor, Thomas, Warren, Weathersby, West, Whittington

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE MISSISSIPPI CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER OF THE HIGH PRICES OF NEW DRUGS IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO TAKE SOME ACTION TO HELP REDUCE THE PRICES OF NEW DRUGS IN THIS COUNTRY.

WHEREAS, in recent years many pharmaceutical companies have developed a number of new drugs that have been very effective in treating or relieving the symptoms of various illnesses and conditions; and

WHEREAS, because of their effectiveness, these new drugs have been in high demand among patients and have been widely prescribed by physicians and other health care professionals; and

WHEREAS, these new drugs are still under patent protection, so each of the drugs is only available from one company and they are often very expensive; and

WHEREAS, the large increase in the use of these costly drugs has caused great strain on health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs, including the State and School Employees Health Insurance Plan; and

WHEREAS, the drug companies assert that the high prices for these drugs is justified because they need to recover the millions of dollars that they spent for research and development and for conducting the required federal trials on the drugs; and

WHEREAS, despite the companies' claims that high prices for new drugs are necessary, many consumers, patients and insurers in the United States have become aware that many of these drugs that are so expensive here are available in other countries at prices significantly lower than those in this country; and

WHEREAS, if the pharmaceutical companies can afford to sell these drugs in other countries much cheaper than the prices they charge in the United States, many people want to know why the drugs are not sold for the same lower prices in this country; and

WHEREAS, it is important for state and federal policymakers to find out why there is such a discrepancy between the prices of new drugs sold in the United States and the same drugs sold in other countries, and to find some ways to help lower the prices of drugs for American consumers and patients:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we memorialize the Mississippi congressional delegation to look into the matter of the high prices of new drugs in the United States, to find out why these new drugs are sold much cheaper in many other countries than they are in the United States, and to take some action to help reduce the prices of new drugs in this country.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution shall be furnished to each member of the Mississippi congressional delegation and to the Capitol Press Corps.