Making Your Voice Heard in Minnesota
AARP Advocacy in Minnesota gives you a voice on issues that matter. As we begin a new year, learn more about AARP Minnesota's 2020 Legislative priorities:
Stop Rx Greed
Prescription Drug Affordability Act (HF1668; Pryor/SF353; Jensen)
- The Board is an independent body that evaluates drug prices and is charged with setting rates or upper payment limits, for prescription drugs to protect consumers, state and local governments, health plan companies, providers, pharmacies, and other health care system stakeholders from excessive costs. Affordability Boards are based on the precedent of health care rate setting and state regulation of public utilities.
End Price Gouging (HF4; Lesch/SF1518; Klein) - Promotes public health by preventing unconscionable price gouging. It empowers the MN Attorney General to take civil action, up to $25k per violation against drug manufacturers and wholesale distributors who charge unconscionable prices for an essential drug sold in Minnesota. Unconscionable price means a price not reasonably justified by the cost of inventing; producing; selling and distributing the drugs and purchasers have no meaningful choice, because no comparable drugs are sold in Minnesota at a reasonable price.
Require Price Transparency (HF1246; Morrison/SF1098; Rosen) - Requires drug manufacturers to provide greater transparency over their pricing. For drugs priced more than $40 for a course of therapy and whose price increases by more than 10% in a 12-month period or more than 16% in a 24-month period, drug manufacturers will be required to report information about them to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Information will be available publically on the MDH website. Failure to comply could result in a fine to the drug manufacturer of $10,000 per drug, per day.
Leverage State Purchasing Power to Negotiate Prices (HF3; Liebling/ SF 1080; Klein) - Aligns prescription drug benefits for all state health care programs under a common administrative structure. The proposal will leverage the state’s purchasing power to bring down prescription drug costs, increase transparency and ensure access to comprehensive drug coverage statewide.
Promoting Access to Life-Saving Insulin (“Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act” HF485; Howard/SF472; Wiklund) - Allows diabetics to access an emergency funding source to purchase insulin if they are uninsured or have an out-of-pocket limit of $5,000 or more. The insulin assistance program will discourage rationing and reduce the immediate negative impact of the skyrocketing price of insulin.
Importation of Prescription Drugs (SF XXX; Benson/HFXXX) - Authorizes the state to seek federal approval to import medication on a wholesale basis from Canada or countries with similar safety and quality standards.
Minnesota's Paid and Family Medical Leave
The Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave Act would ensure financial security for family caregivers by providing up to 12 weeks of partial wage replacement during leave for pregnancy and medical leave and 12 weeks of partial wage replacement for care of a seriously ill family member.
Use Your Voice: Volunteer!
AARP Minnesota is seeking advocacy volunteers to help bring the voices of older Minnesotans to St. Paul in order to provide their perspective on important issues such as elder abuse, prescription drug costs and support for family caregivers.
AARP volunteer advocates meet with legislators in their communities and at the capitol. They also attend hearings, town-hall forums and other events focused on issues important to Minnesotans age 50 and older.
The time commitment is flexible, with most of the work taking place in the first half of the year, and new volunteers are paired with AARP staff and mentors.
Anyone who wants to make a difference in the community is encouraged to join. For more information on becoming a volunteer advocate, contact Meghan Redmond at 651-726-5642 or mredmond@aarp.org.
