AARP VA Pushes Governor to Approve Affordable Medicine Act

An updated version of The Affordable Medicine Act is set to become law in Virginia, following its passage through both branches of the state’s General Assembly with substantial bipartisan agreement. This legislation aims to extend the prescription drug discounts currently enjoyed by Medicare recipients to all Virginia residents.

The bill was supported in the Senate with a 36-4 vote on March 11 and had previously been backed by the House of Delegates in an emphatic 95-4 vote. Now, it awaits the signature of Governor Abigail Spanberger, who had championed efforts to lower drug prices during her time in Congress.

“Governor Spanberger was a vocal supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act while in Congress, a legislation that empowered Medicare to negotiate down prices of cost-intensive prescription drugs,” stated AARP Virginia State Director Jim Dau, adding, “Now, she has the chance to deliver again for Virginians not enrolled in Medicare by endorsing the Affordable Medicine Act – a move that would hold Big Pharma to account, improve PBM transparency, and bring much-needed savings to Virginians grappling with healthcare costs.”

Although this is the third consecutive year that the General Assembly has passed legislation intended to reduce prescription drug costs for Virginians, previous bills were vetoed by then-Governor Glenn Youngkin.

The latest bill – Senate Bill 271 and House Bill 483 – provides for the extension of Medicare-negotiated prescription drug prices to hundreds of thousands of Virginians who are not currently Medicare beneficiaries. Additionally, it proposes the creation of a Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Panel, which would be tasked with advising the General Assembly on drug pricing and suggesting policies to further decrease consumer expenses. These bills have been championed by Delegate Karrie Delaney (D-Centreville) and Senator Creigh Deeds (D-Charlottesville).

The Affordable Medicine Act’s introduction aligns with public sentiment. According to an AARP voter survey conducted last year, the majority of Virginians favor action to lower prescription drug prices. The survey reported 84% of respondents supporting the concept of an affordability board.

AARP Virginia, representing around one million members in the state, has actively campaigned for improved healthcare. The organization has successfully advocated for the expansion of Medicaid, protection of older people from financial exploitation, improved nursing home staffing standards, and the empowerment of family caregivers.

For more information on AARP Virginia, follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aarpvirginia and @AARPVa on X at www.x.com/aarpva.

AARP is a nationwide nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, focusing on empowering individuals aged 50 and above to make their own life choices as they grow older. AARP assists in strengthening communities and advocating for issues that matter to the 125 million American 50-plus population and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. The AARP produces the largest-circulation publications in the country: AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit aarp.org, aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPLatino and @AARPadvocates on social media.