DPC Appears on Open Range Podcast to Discuss 340B Drug Legislation in North Dakota

Domestic Policy Caucus Secretary/Treasurer Kent Kaiser, Ph.D., recently appeared on the Open Range podcast with host Dustin Gawrylow  to discuss the folly of legislation to expand the program in North Dakota. 

Gawrylow and Kaiser discussed what the 340B drug pricing program is and the need for reform of the program before it is expanded anywhere. They specifically encouraged North Dakota legislators to work towards injecting accountability and transparency into the program rather than pushing forward with an expansion of 340B, as contained in HB1473 currently under consideration in the legislature. 

Watch the full podcast here.

DPC Urges North Dakota Legislators to Oppose HB1473 Expansion of 340B Program

The Domestic Policy Caucus today wrote to members of the North Dakota House of Representatives Committee on Industry, Business, and Labor to urge rejection of House Bill 1473, which would expand the 340B drug pricing program in the state.

In the letter, DPC Secretary/Treasurer Kent Kaiser, Ph.D., wrote, "Haven’t the likes of Walmart and Walgreens done enough to harm main streets across North Dakota? An expansion of 340B would create an economic environment in which incentives would be put in place to encourage even more consolidation of healthcare systems, to put healthcare farther out of reach of rural North Dakotans, and to imperil the ability of underserved residents to receive the medications they need, all while lining the pockets of big healthcare systems and giant chain pharmacies. Meanwhile, it would do nothing to reduce healthcare costs, which is what everyone really wants. Indeed, it probably would actually increase costs while resulting in poorer health outcomes."

Read the full letter here.

DPC Calls on South Dakota Senators to Oppose SB154 340B Expansion

The Domestic Policy Caucus today wrote to members of the South Dakota Senate's Health & Human Services Committee, urging them to oppose an expansion of the 340B drug pricing program in their state, as contained in Senate Bill 154.

In the letter, DPC wrote, "...An expansion of 340B would hand over even more economic power to massive, national chain pharmacies that have driven so many local, mom-and-pop pharmacies out of business over the past several years... An expansion of 340B would create an economic environment in which incentives would be put in place to encourage even more consolidation of healthcare systems, to put healthcare farther out of reach of rural South Dakotans, and to imperil the ability of underserved residents to receive the medications they need, all while lining the pockets of big healthcare systems and giant chain pharmacies... As you know, pharmacies are essential to the communities they serve. But in South Dakota and throughout America, independent drugstores are struggling... South Dakota is in the top four states with the most counties having insufficient access to a drugstore."

Read the full letter here.

DPC Urges Nebraska Legislature to Oppose LB168 340B Program Expansion

Domestic Policy Caucus Secretary/Treasurer Kent Kaiser, Ph.D., today wrote to members of the Nebraska Legislature's Banking, Commerce, and Insurance Committee, urging them to oppose LB168, which would expand the 340B program in the state.

Here are some excerpts of the DPC letter to Nebraska lawmakers: "If they were made aware of it, most Nebraskans probably would find it baffling that their state legislature is considering the expansion of a massive federal healthcare mandate. It’s troubling that this appears to be happening with little discussion about the financial impacts of the policy or about the impact on rural Nebraskans... What’s more is that an expansion of 340B would hand over even more economic power to massive, national chain pharmacies that have driven so many local, mom-and-pop pharmacies out of business over the past several years... As you know, pharmacies are essential to the communities they serve. But in Nebraska and throughout America, independent drugstores are struggling... Nebraska is in the top four states with the most counties having insufficient access to a drugstore."

Read the full letter here.

DPC Testifies against DIDMCA Opt-Out in Oregon

On January 28, Domestic Policy Caucus Secretary/Treasurer Kent Kaiser, Ph.D., testified virtually against House Bill 2561 before the Oregon State House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection.

HB 2561 is a bill that would opt Oregon out of the federal Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act (DIDMCA), which allows state-chartered banks to compete across state lines. An opt-out would limit credit options for Oregonians and thus hinder the freedom to borrow money.

In part, Kaiser testified, "You wouldn’t send someone to the Alvord Desert without a water bottle. You shouldn’t banish poor Oregonians to a veritable credit desert with no way to survive, either."

Read the full testimony here.

New Domestic Policy Podcast Episode: The 340B Prescription Drug Program: Reforms Needed

In a new Domestic Policy Podcast episode released January 24, Dr. Kent Kaiser explains what the federal 340B prescription drug program is, why it needs to be reformed, and what the Domestic Policy Caucus is doing through the organization’s Fix340B initiative.

During the episode, Dr Kaiser said, in part, “The problem really began as for profit hospitals started purchasing the 340B covered entities in order to gain access to the 340B prices. And the problem really exploded as those hospitals began contracting with multiple pharmacies that also were qualified for the 340B discount through their association. Many of those pharmacies and hospitals turn around and charge Medicare or Medicaid, and private insurance companies, the full price for a medicine that is acquired at the 340B discount, and unfortunately, they don’t let the patient know about the discount, they don't let the patient know that they even are a 340B patient.

Listen to the full episode here.

DPC Discusses Minnesota's Push for Costly Fuel Standards on American Potential Podcast

In this episode of American Potential, Jeff Crank speaks with Kent Kaiser, a representative of the Domestic Policy Caucus and founder of NoFuelBan.com, about Minnesota’s controversial push for clean fuel standards and the far-reaching consequences it could have on everyday Americans. From skyrocketing fuel prices to devastating rural economies, Kent exposes the harmful impacts of government overreach in Minnesota and other states considering similar policies.

Hear how a broad coalition of stakeholders—from truckers to corn growers—rallied to fight back against legislation that would force families and small businesses to pay more for fuel and vehicles while delivering negligible environmental benefits. This is a fight for freedom of choice and economic survival, as Kent and Jeff discuss the arrogance of policymakers who fail to understand the realities faced by everyday Americans. If you’re tired of government elites imposing costly, impractical policies on hardworking citizens, this episode will arm you with the knowledge and inspiration to stand up for liberty and common sense.

Watch the podcast episode here.

DPC Urges Thoughtful Amendment of 340B Expansion in Michigan

Today, the Domestic Policy Caucus wrote to members of the Michigan House of Representatives, urging them to adopt an amendment proposed by Senator Sylvia Santana.

Sen. Santana’s amendment would strengthen the 340B program in Michigan by injecting some transparency and oversight provisions into the program so legislators can hold covered entities responsible for delivering on 340B’s stated purpose, which is to help low-income people afford their medicines.

“We strongly encourage you to adopt Sen. Santana’s thoughtful, common sense amendment to SB1179,” DPC wrote.

Read the complete letter here.

DPC Testifies Against Expansion of 340B in Michigan

Today, Domestic Policy Caucus Secretary/Treasurer Kent Kaiser, Ph.D., delivered a testimony to the Michigan Senate Committee on Oversight opposing the expansion of 340B, the federal law on prescription drugs, in Michigan, as contained in SB1179.

Kaiser wrote, in part, “Making a bad program bigger is not the answer. The 340B program should be fixed before there’s any discussion of expanding it. You should provide oversight to hold covered entities responsible for delivering on 340B’s stated purpose. Simply defining who is a 340B patient and ensuring the money flows to those eligible patients – instead of big box pharmacies and hospital systems – is a commonsense first step.”

Read the full testimony here.

DPC Appears on WWTC The Patriot Radio to Discuss DIDMCA Opt-Out Folly

On November 30, Domestic Policy Caucus Secretary/Treasurer Kent Kaiser, Ph.D., appeared on the Jack Tomczak Show on WWTC 1280 AM The Patriot in the Twin Cities to discuss the folly of legislation arising in several states to opt out of the four-decades-old federal Depository Institutions and Monetary Control Act of 1980 which allows state-chartered banks to compete across state lines.

Listen to the segment here.