Transparency, competition needed on drug prices

Under normal circumstances, exorbitant prescription drug prices make it difficult for patients to make ends meet. Unfortunately, this reality is exacerbated even more by the current coronavirus crisis gripping the nation.

Prescription drug prices are escalating at an unprecedented and unsustainable rate throughout our country, and New Jersey is not immune. It not only affects the health of the people who rely on these drugs, but the wallets of every hard-working New Jersey resident.

Undoubtedly, everyone should be able to get the medications they need at prices they can afford. Yet, the rising cost of prescription drugs is adding undue financial stress and crippling American households. Paying for necessary prescription drugs has become a Hobson’s Choice in our state – with patients deciding to pay for medicine or go without so they can afford rent, groceries and other life expenses. While drug manufacturers maximize their profits, the result is a detrimental effect on consumers’ wallets.

As a state legislator, I have proposed needed reforms that would bring transparency and competition to the industry, but more must be done at the federal level to address this far-reaching, national problem. That is why health care stakeholders across the board should commit to enacting policies that preserve innovation and competition, while also promoting transparency to improve the value of medications for patients. Certainly, one should not end up in the poorhouse because they simply had the misfortune of getting sick. In the richest nation in the world, and one of the wealthiest states in America, this is unacceptable and simply unconscionable.

The time to act is now.

Hon. Troy Singleton

Senator 7th Legislative District

EPA using COVID-19 as an excuse

As I write this on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, is using the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to relax enforcement of rules protecting our air and water.

Yes, while a virulent respiratory virus is sweeping the country, infecting over 800,000 and killing over 40,000, the EPA is allowing more pollution into the air and water. Since this administration began, the EPA has been rolling back rules that have long protected us.

Call or email the EPA and tell Andrew Wheeler enough is enough. Enforce the rules.

Ann Cahill-Makowsky

Bordentown

We are still a ‘government of the people’

Conformity driven by fear and social responsibility driven by guilt cannot be Americans’ idea of freedom. That is akin to living under a communist regime.

If the goal of testing for this coronavirus is to prevent people from getting sick, then we are wasting our time and money with no end in sight. The goal must be to prevent some people from dying which is attainable. This is done by isolating the vulnerable population while the rest of America goes about its business.

Keeping healthy people away from the virus is not a solution and in fact almost guarantees an upsurge in cases when these people are “released from captivity.” Even with the flu vaccine, we still have 30,000 to 60,000 deaths every year.

It is noticeable that neither of our “government expert” doctors ever mention the fact. And it is an undisputed fact that 98% of people acquiring this virus survive it. This is not a “deadly disease” as some suggest.

Several countries using the above strategy never shut down and are no worse off than those of us who did. And in some cases they are better off.

Joe Hegarty

Mullica Hill

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