Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who represents St. Lawrence County in the 21st Congressional District, cosponsored two pieces of bipartisan legislation designed to keep drug prices down and increase healthcare access for seniors.

According to a press release from her office, the measures will increase care in rural communities by supporting pharmacies serving seniors and preventing prescription drug costs from being driven up without adding any value to the consumer.

The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act (H.R. 2759) will make it easier for Medicare patients in underserved communities to receive care, the Congresswoman said.

This bill will encourage pharmacists to serve older Americans by providing services such as immunizations, diabetes management, blood pressure screenings, and routine checks.

This will save patients in underserved areas and rural communities from being forced to travel to the doctor for these basic services.

The Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act (H.R. 6101) will ban the use of spread pricing by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), limiting their power to artificially spike drug prices.

“I’m working to drive down drug prices and increase seniors’ access to healthcare in rural communities,” Stefanik said. “Seniors in New York’s 21st District should not be forced to drive hours to find a doctor for basic, but essential, healthcare services when there is an avenue to care closer to home. These pieces of legislation will cut through red tape, help our seniors’ save time and valuable resources by allowing pharmacists to provide these services to those with Medicare, and ensure drug prices are not needlessly being driven up. I am proud to support this effort to support the health of our seniors.”