View source for Principles Regarding Prescription Drug Benefits Exposed

The '''[[:media:5S7-Principles_Regarding_Prescription_Drug_Benefits_Exposed.pdf|Statement of Principles Regarding Prescription Drug Benefits]]''' was adopted by ALEC's [https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_Health_and_Human_Services_Task_Force Health and Human Services Task Force] at the Annual Meeting on August 3, 2001, approved by the Board of Directors September, 2001. {{AEX2011}}

==ALEC Bill Text==

The federal government is considering the addition of a prescription drug benefit to the
Medicare program to address growing concerns about access to and affordability of
prescription drugs. In addition, given the present absence of federal action, many states
are crafting or have already created benefit programs for their citizenry. Numerous
proposals have been offered with regard to these proposed benefits, many of which
directly contradict the Jeffersonian principles of limited government, individual choice,
and free markets upon which our nation was founded. Alarmingly, many of these
proposals provide a new entitlement for a class of our citizenry. The Health and Human
Services Task Force of the American Legislative Exchange Council is committed to the
implementation of a prescription drug benefit that does not violate Jeffersonian principles.
To that end, and to serve as a foundation for its work, the Task Force has adopted a
model set of Principles Regarding Prescription Drug Benefits. These principles include, but
are not limited to:

<u>Flexibility.</u> 

The Task Force supports a benefit that affords the states the greatest degree
of flexibility in implementation. While the Task Force would prefer to have a prescription
drug benefit funded using block grants, its principles apply to both a federally
implemented and a state-implemented benefit. The Task Force rejects any unfunded
mandates imposed by the federal government and will oppose any movement by the
federal government to shirk its financial responsibility with regard to overall Medicare
reform. In addition, any federal legislation must contain the necessary provisions to
permit states to continue operation of their existing plans without penalizing proactive
states through maintenance of effort provisions.

<u>A targeted benefit.</u>

A very small number of seniors, only 4% in 1999, spent more
than $2,000 per year on out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses. Seniors with the
highest expenses and the lowest incomes are those to whom a prescription drug benefit
must be targeted. If a drug benefit is enacted to extend to the entire Medicare
population, or the entire citizenry, it will result in the creation of another broad
entitlement. The creation of such an entitlement in our nation’s social policy is
irresponsible and will foster unintended consequences by distorting markets, putting
extraordinary burdens on taxpayers to fund this entitlement, and ultimately injecting
damaging government controls. What is needed is a sense of ownership in meeting a
need rather than a sense of entitlement.

<u>Free-Market Supremacy.</u>

A key to the success of any health care reform, including
the addition of a prescription drug benefit, is the ability of the private sector to meet the
needs of the population. The federal and state governments should seek innovative
partnerships with the private sector to provide prescription drugs for its citizens. Though
a drug benefit will utilize public funding, the private sector is best able to deliver this
benefit, as it may negotiate appropriate discounts and keep overall spending in check.

<u>Individual Freedom and Choice.</u>

Our nation is founded upon these two bedrock
principles, which are all too often ignored by policymakers, particularly in the health care
arena. A prescription drug benefit must allow its beneficiaries affordable access to all
necessary pharmaceuticals, whether name brands, generics, or some non-prescription
over-the-counter drugs. Allowing such access protects the sanctity of the patient-provider
relationship, which the Task Force acknowledges and respects.

At the same time, the Task Force recognizes the difficult choices to be made given the
constraint of limited economic resources. Thus, while the Task Force supports the
greatest degree of freedom possible for patients, it also recognizes that access to
pharmaceuticals is not without boundaries. Accordingly, the Task Force supports allowing
the states to exercise the greatest degree of freedom when it comes to making crucial
decisions on issues such as formularies, cost sharing, and disease management. The Task
Force further supports drug benefit plans that promote personal responsibility,
encouraging beneficiaries to recognize the costs of their coverage and the consequences
associated therewith.

Regardless, beneficiaries must have some level of choice with regard to a prescription
drug benefit so as to encourage market-oriented behaviors. Beneficiaries must be able to
choose between competing, private sector plans in order to make their own
determinations, as “one size fits all” does not apply in the health care arena.

<u>Market-Dictated Pricing.</u>

Government entitlement programs inevitably lead to price
controls. When price controls are imposed on any industry, they reduce return on
investment, and the ability of producers to fund new, innovative research or continued
development, or increase production. The most damaging effect of price controls on
pharmaceuticals is that they will discourage manufacturers from developing additional
life-saving drugs because they will not be able to recoup the costs of research and
development. History has proven time and again that mandated price controls do not
work; in fact, one truism of public policy is that price controls on goods and services lead
to shortages of those goods. It is tragically ironic that a proposal intended to expand
access to medication through price controls will result in restricting patient access.

Adopted by the Health and Human Services Task Force at the Annual Meeting on August
3, 2001. Approved by the ALEC Board of Directors September 2001.