Authorizes the department of insurance to participate in a cooperative procurement group through an intergovernmental agreement for a prescription drug discount program.
authorizing the department of insurance to participate in a cooperative procurement group via an intergovernmental agreement for a prescription drug discount program.
Medicare Part D Drug plans can have expensive co-pays for many drugs which is why I support a prescription discount card that supports privacy and lowering costs for New Hampshire residents.
Participating in a cooperative procurement group to purchase lower cost prescription drugs sounds like a winner idea to me. It is especially helpful in the current economy where our money is being taken to greater degree to subsidize education that is supposed to be receiving a larger contribution from the state, and costs continue to spiral out of control to finance a war that one man decided for us would be a GOOD idea. Our higher prices are bolstered by an increasing inflation and increasing difficulty in getting goods due the aforementioned war. Governor Ayotte, I hope you consider this strongly to make a small improvement in the lives of many Granite Staters. Thank you, Pat Batchelder
I support SB 647 because authorizing the Department of Insurance to join a cooperative procurement group strengthens New Hampshire’s ability to negotiate lower prescription drug costs while maintaining clear oversight through Governor and Council approval. This approach improves affordability and transparency without weakening regulatory guardrails.
I support this bill which would help NH residents save money on prescriptions drug costs.
It is important to reduce prescription costs. This Bill will help NH citizens. Thank you
We would love to put solar panels on our house but the structure of the roof does not allow it. Please support this bill. Your constituents and the NH economy need solar energy. Help make the world less dependent on volatile oil producing nations!
With the rising cost of everything we need a discount RX card that is safe to use.
A very worthwhile bill! When the program it aurhorizes gets under way, it will help NH people get the medications they need and can't now afford.
Granite Staters need help with high prescription drug prices. The program benefits everyone by helping New Hampshire address rising prescription costs while putting the savings directly into the pockets of our residents.
I support this bill because I think the program benefits everyone by helping New Hampshire address rising prescription costs while putting the savings directly into the pockets of our residents.
I support this bill for a number of reasons. It is a proven idea working in other states; it saves money on prescriptions for citizens making it more likely that they will not skip doses or refills; thus it has enhances health, which in turn SAVES MONEY for the state in avoided undue health costs due to untreated conditions. And the state incurs no financial burden in participating in this program -- thus it does NOT cost money to the state! Lastly, the state can require that the private information of consumers using the discount card are not shared for commercial purposes --this PROTECTING PRIVACY.
High prescription costs are forcing New Hampshire families to make difficult decisions, and I’ve experienced it firsthand. This winter has been especially challenging for me due to my asthma. After several visits to my doctor, it was recommended that I switch to a different inhaler. Since I have insurance, I didn't think much about changing prescriptions. However, when I went to pick it up at the pharmacy, I was shocked to learn that the new inhaler would cost $630 per month. I suddenly found myself having to decide whether the benefits of the medication were worth such a high cost. Seeing my reaction, my pharmacist stepped in and helped me explore ways to reduce the expense. Thankfully, with her guidance, we found a coupon that brought the monthly cost down to something I could afford. I'm now doing much better on the new inhaler, but it's hard not to think that without her help, I likely wouldn't have been able to access this medication at all. No one should have to rely on luck to afford the medication their doctor prescribed. That's why I'm urging New Hampshire State Representatives to support SB 647, a bipartisan bill that would create a free prescription drug discount card for all New Hampshire residents that’s not for profit and puts our privacy first. No Granite Stater should have to choose between breathing and paying the bills. Thank-you, Paula Garvey, Amherst.
My name is Mary Doane and I am a resident of Dover, NH. I write in strong support of SB 647. Prescription drug costs are a crisis for too many Granite Staters — more than half worry about affording their medications, and one in four have skipped or rationed doses because of cost. SB 647 would bring a free, privacy-first prescription discount card program to New Hampshire, offering real savings at pharmacies statewide without selling participants’ personal data. This is a commonsense, no-cost solution that puts money back in the pockets of residents who need it most. I urge the committee to support SB 647. Thank you.
My husband and I are both on multiple meds. We have issues that were passed on, ie my husband's cardiac issue was picked up because his mother had the same thing. He and his sister got immune issues rheumatoid arthritis, my husband is now in the middle of an exacerbation. His sister has been diagnosed with gluten intolerance one of her daughters were diagnosed. My father, both brothers myself all have high cholesterol, my son has it as well. We were all diagnosed young. We need help with prescriptions!
This is exactly the kind of bill we need to help people afford some part of our broken "sick" care system. I support this bill and others like it.
Great idea- thank you!
This bill will benefit those in need and therefore I support it for the citizens of NH.
Any effort that helps people to afford their necessary prescriptions is important. Please support SB 647.
Medical bills are less for society when folks can follow preventive measures and take their prescriptions regularly. This bill is a cost-saver, and most likely a life-saver.
This is desperately needed. No one should have to forego medications because of affordability
Thank you very much for your representation. Appreciate it! Suellen
Free prescription drugs will attract taxpayers to this state and we need to make NH attractive. Please support SB647
Our healthcare costs are out of control and unaffordable for most citizens in NH. My husband needs medications that cost us over $300 per month, and we have insurance. A discount card for prescriptions might help us and many others in our state.
With a limited formulary of my insurance, using a discount card often helps with out of pockets payments
As a retired nurse and concerned New Hampshire citizen, I would like to submit testimony on behalf of myself in support of SB647. After decades caring for patients across our state, I’ve seen firsthand how critical affordable prescription drugs are to keeping people healthy and independent. Unfortunately, too many New Hampshire residents still struggle to afford the medications they rely on. Many people have told me they delay filling prescriptions or try to stretch their medications because of cost. The data reflect what I’ve witnessed for years: more than half of Granite Staters worry about affording their prescriptions and one in four has had to skip doses, cut pills in half, or leave needed medications at the pharmacy counter. As a nurse, I can tell you that these choices are not just heartbreaking-they can be dangerous. No one should ever have to choose between taking a medication exactly as prescribed and paying for groceries, rent or utilities. That’s why I strongly support SB647, which would allow New Hampshire to create a free prescription drug discount card program. This program would provide significant savings on commonly used medications and would be available to all residents, regardless of age or income. Just as important, it protects consumers by ensuring no personal data is sold. This is a practical, common sense step forward. By reducing prescription drug costs, we help Granite Staters stay healthier, avoid costly medical complications, and keep more money in their pockets. For these reasons I respectfully urge you to support and pass SB647. Thank you.