Lesser Co-Chairing New Legislative Prescription Drug Task Force

HARTFORD, CT — State Sen. Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) has assumed a leadership role on the newly formed Prescription Drug Task Force, which met for the first time Wednesday in Hartford.

The task force is a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of lawmakers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, experts from the pharmaceutical industry, advocates, and patients charged with determining a legislative solution to "tackle the rising cost of prescription drugs." Lesser will serve as co-chair of the group, along with State Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock), State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford), and State Rep. Tracy Marra (R-Darien).

The task force will also examine the challenges in prescription drug access and pharmacy care across Connecticut. The goal is to develop practical solutions that enhance pharmacy access while supporting the health and economic well-being of residents and the state.

Members will gather again in January and finalize their legislative recommendations in February. Recommendations will come from the task force’s four subcommittees: patient protection, rare diseases and medical innovation, pharmacy benefit management oversight; medication importation and shortages; and prescription drug pricing and Federal 340B program.

According to a 2022 study of more than 1,300 Connecticut adults, the Healthcare Value Hub found that:

• 55 percent experienced at least one healthcare affordability burden in the past year;
• 78 percent worry about affording healthcare in the future;
• 28 percent of those surveyed with household incomes of less than $50,000 had rationed medication in the last 12 months due to cost.
• Lower-income respondents and respondents with disabilities are more likely to go without care and incur debt due to healthcare costs
• Across party lines, respondents express strong support for government-led solutions