Daines Votes for Amendment to Let the Cost of Prescription Drugs Continue to Rise for Montana Seniors

Helena, Mont. — U.S. Sen. Steve Daines today voted with Big Pharma and against limiting the cost of prescription drugs for Montana seniors who rely on Medicare for their health care. In a U.S. Senate Finance Committee business meeting, Republicans on the committee attempted to remove a cap on Medicare prescription drug costs that was included in bipartisan legislation the committee passed to curb the cost of prescription drugs.

Daines joined all but two Republican senators in voting for an amendment to eliminate a price ceiling for Montanans on prescription drugs – paving the way for even more exorbitant costs for folks on Medicare. The chairman of the committee and one other Republican senator joined every Democrat on the committee in voting against removing the drug price cap.

“When it comes to lowering prescription drug costs, Steve Daines is trying to have it both ways,” said Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Monica Lindeen.“Daines pretends to fight for families and seniors but votes against them when it counts.”

The broader bipartisan bill, the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act, would limit the price Medicare recipients pay for prescription drugs to $3,100 each year and require pharmaceutical companies to provide rebates if companies increase their drug prices faster than the rate of inflation.

The bill passed the Senate Finance Committee by a vote of 19-9. Only Republicans voted against it. The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.