New legislation from a local lawmaker will make prescription drug prices more transparent.

State Representative Hank Vaupel of Handy Township delivered testimony, Thursday, to the House Health Policy Committee in support of the legislation he introduced. Vaupel, who chairs the House Health Policy Committee, proposed a bill that would reveal the true cost of what it takes to manufacture prescription drugs and bring them to market.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers would be required to report to the Department of Health and Human Services any factors relating to prescription drugs with a yearly cost of $10,000 or more. Vaupel said that residents should not have to ration their health care or any other aspect of their life in order to afford essential medicine that saves or drastically improves their lives.

A release from Vaupel’s office claims that in 2016, drug price increases accounted for 100% of net earnings for major pharmaceutical companies, a total equaling $8.7 billion. These increases have not only caught Vaupel’s eye, but many across the country. 36 bills related to such have been introduced in 24 states as of last month. The committee will vote on the measure in the coming weeks. (MK)