RELEASE: 86% of Illinoisans Support the Establishment of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) and Advocates Pressed Their Case Today in Springfield
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Josh Schrader
josh@citizenaction-il.org
200+ advocates rally in Springfield in support of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in Illinois
Springfield, IL — Over 250 people including lawmakers, and advocates gathered today at the State Capitol to underscore the critical importance of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board Act (HB1443/SB66), legislation aimed at protecting Illinoisans from the soaring costs of prescription medications. Remarks between both events were given from Chief House Sponsor Representative Nabeela Syed, and Chief Senate Sponsor Senator Robert Peters, alongside Anusha Thotakura, Jaquie Algee, Dr. Anthony Douglas, Hewitt Douglas, Timothy Jackson, Dr. Diane Haddad, Margaret Heywood-Smith, Demetrice Davis, Omari Prince, Lori Hendren, and William McNary.
Anusha Thotakura, Director of Citizen Action/Illinois, opened both the rally and the press conference stating: “I am really proud to be here today with over 200 folks coming down to Springfield to talk to their lawmakers about the importance of being able to make their prescription medication more affordable. We believe that no one should have to go without access to life saving medication because they can't afford it. And right now, based on a poll that we commissioned,* over one in three Illinoisans are either skipping pills, cutting pills in half, or skipping filling their prescriptions altogether due to costs, and we don't believe that that is right. This coalition includes small business advocates, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and impacted everyday Illinoisans saying that enough is enough. We need to do more to make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible.”
Dr. Anthony Douglas, who is a General Surgery Resident at UChicago, also spoke at both the rally and press conference where he led chants and spoke from his personal experience as a doctor. “I'm here today on behalf of the patients I care for. If it wasn't obvious to you by now, the sad reality is our federal government is not coming to save us. They are not interested in protecting the majority of Americans. The current President has taken every opportunity to roll back what progress the previous administration has made in reducing prescription drug costs. Last month, Trump repealed the out of pocket spending cap on generic medications for Medicare patients. To say the current administration is out of touch with everyday Americans, will be too much credit. Quite frankly, they just do not care. So it's up to us. It is up to Illinois. It is up to our lawmakers.”
Chief House Sponsor Representative Nabeela Syed, spoke to the momentum that Lobby Day caused around the State Capitol. “I hear from constituents day in and day out that are struggling with the costs of affording their prescription medication, medication that they need to live their day to day lives. And I just want to emphasize the power of every single person who is here today in Springfield to advocate for this bill. In the past two hours alone, I've been approached by a number of my colleagues who have hopped on as co sponsors to this important legislation, because constituents from their district approach them and ask them to support this”
Chief Senate Sponsor Robert Peters, painted a clear picture for rallygoers saying “I'm sick and tired of people talking about topical issues, and not doing anything about it. Well I believe that we can fundamentally do something about this. Our job is to keep people alive. Our job is to provide people with care.”
Dr. Diane Haddad, also from UChicago, continued to say “In the first two days of 2025, drug makers raised their list prices on 575 name brand drugs, the median price hike was 4% higher than the already high rate of inflation. We can't go on this way. That's why doctors like me are thrilled to support legislation to create a prescription drug affordability board or PDAB in our state. This would help rein in high drug costs in a meaningful way for patients Millions of Illinoisans—including seniors, people with disabilities, and working families—are being forced to choose between paying for their prescriptions and covering basic needs.”
Margaret Heywood-Smith, an SEIU Illinois Representative, spoke about her personal experience with high medication costs saying, “My sister is half blind and needs daily prescription drops to protect the vision in her good eye—she can’t miss a single dose or she could go completely blind. Even with insurance, Medicare or Medicaid—people can pay a lot out of their own pockets to get the drugs they need to stay healthy—and people can die if they don’t get these drugs.”
*Other facts according to polling done by Citizen Action/Illinois:
1 in 4 Illinois voters ration their medications by cutting pills in half or skipping doses due to high costs
77% of Illinoisans are worried about affording their prescription medication
73% of Illinoisans are more likely to vote for a candidate who generally supports legislation to lower drug costs
86% of Illinoisans are supportive of establishing a PDAB
⅓ of premium costs are due to high-cost prescription drugs
AARP Illinois Representative Lori Hendren, Senior Associate State Director, spoke more specific to drug prices saying “January 2025 report by AARP Public Policy Institute revealed list prices for top 25 brand name drugs that are not currently negotiated within Medicare Part D have increased an average of 98% since they entered the market. 20 of these 25 drugs greatly exceeded the corresponding annual rate of inflation, these are often life saving medications critical to the treatment of diabetes, heart disease and other debilitating diseases that many of our loved ones may endure at supper.”
Margaret Heywood-Smith, with SEIU, stated the call to action from today is clear: “It’s time for lawmakers to pass this bill to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board—to help ensure that everyone who needs prescription drugs to stay healthy or even just to stay alive, can get those drugs without going hungry, homeless or broke!”
Here is a fact sheet with more information, details on how to get involved, and ways to contact Illinois legislators to support the implementation of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
Citizen Action/Illinois is the state’s largest public progressive interest organization, dedicated to advocating for healthcare access, economic justice, and consumer rights. Through grassroots organizing and coalition-building, we work to ensure policies that protect Illinois families, seniors, and communities.
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For Media Inquiries:
Contact
Josh Schrader
Citizen Action/Illinois
(402) 860-0689
josh@citizenaction-il.org