thank you for the opportunity

Michigan families shouldn’t be subsidizing higher drug profits than families in Ontario or London pay for the exact same medications made by the exact same companies. An estimated $800 million a year in Medicaid savings isn’t just a budget line, it’s money that could go toward classrooms, roads, and services our residents and visitors rely on instead of padding pharmaceutical margins already justified by prices paid elsewhere in the world. I support Michigan’s move toward Most Favored Nation pricing because it ties what we pay to what other developed economies have already proven is sustainable for these companies. If a drug can be profitably sold in Great Britain or Canada at a fraction of the U.S. price, there’s no legitimate reason Michigan taxpayers should pay more. I also believe the secrecy around our current purchasing agreements is indefensible. When billions of taxpayer dollars are at stake, legislators and the public have a right to know what we’re actually paying and why. Confidential rebate deals make it impossible to hold anyone accountable for whether we’re getting a fair price, and transparency here is basic fiscal responsibility, not a partisan ask. As someone who has had to ration my own medicine due to costs, I believe individual health is public health. Michigan lawmakers and regulators should use every tool available such as MFN pricing, transparency requirements, and aggressive negotiation to bring drug costs in line with what the rest of the developed world already pays.

We are here to improve the life of working class families... all of these would do just that. Full support. Thank you. - Dan

I also support HB 4407 to get Michigan the MiCare single-payer system of healthcare.

This goes hand in hand with my priorities to reduce healthcare costs all around for Michigan residents.

Making healthcare more affordable has to include the price of prescription drugs. Families should not have to choose between filling a prescription and paying another household bill, and Michigan taxpayers should not be paying more than necessary for the medications our state purchases. I spent much of my professional career in procurement and sourcing, including in healthcare. One of the most basic responsibilities in purchasing is knowing what you are paying, understanding the terms of the agreement, and making sure you are getting fair value. When billions of taxpayer dollars are involved, that standard should be at least as high, not lower. I support using Michigan's purchasing power to bring prescription drug costs down while protecting patients' access to the medications they need. I also support substantially greater transparency around state pharmaceutical contracts, rebates, and pricing so legislators and the public can understand where their money is going. Prescription drugs are not optional purchases for the people who need them. We should be doing everything reasonably within the state's power to make them more affordable.

I firmly believe that we must work to ensure every Michigander has access to affordable reliable healthcare, and life-saving prescription medication that doesn’t leave them unable to afford other essential goods. I welcome the opportunity to continue working for the people of Michigan in the 104th Legislature.

No one should have to choose between paying for a prescription and paying their mortgage, buying groceries, or caring for their family.

I support lowering prescription drug costs across the board, and support transparency in government. I have difficulty understanding how drug companies can justify lower prices outside our country especially when the drugs are made here and exported to other countries. Surely the cost to export drugs to other countries is higher for these companies, especially when you consider things like shipping costs, duty fees, and tariffs.

As mayor I’ve pushed to keep public spending out in the open, and drug pricing deserves the same. Michiganders pay far more than people in other countries for the same drugs, largely because of deals struck in secret. On top of that, drug companies spend billions on advertising that pushes brand names over what your doctor actually recommends, and patients foot that bill too. This doesn’t take a big new spending fight to fix, just the will to shine light on these deals and put patients ahead of pharma’s bottom line. Families, small business owners, farmers, and folks on fixed incomes in Bay County are carrying this cost, and they’re who I’ll fight for in Lansing.

I need to gather more information on #4.