RICHMOND, Va. — For many Virginians living with chronic illnesses, prescription medications are not just essential but lifesaving. However, the soaring costs of these drugs make them difficult to access, even for those with insurance. Patients like Mara Shapiro from Charlottesville and Jillian Goodwin from Norfolk are calling on Governor Glenn Youngkin to sign a bill that could make prescription drugs more affordable in Virginia.
Shapiro, who battles Crohn’s disease, shared how her condition would drastically worsen without medication.
“I would be really, really sick, I would be losing a lot of weight, I would be struggling to eat, I would be spending a lot of time in the bathroom,” Shapiro said.
Goodwin, who has cystic fibrosis, also highlighted the crucial role of her medication.
“I was approaching the point of needing a double lung transplant,” she explained.
These life-saving treatments, however, come at an enormous price.
“They are astronomically cost-prohibitive. They are $350,000 a year,” Goodwin said.
What the Bill Proposes
The proposed legislation would establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in Virginia. This board would have the power to cap medication prices if pharmaceutical companies are found to be overcharging patients.
For people like Goodwin and Shapiro, this could be the difference between receiving necessary treatment and struggling with severe health complications.
“Lifesaving medications, they’re amazing, but they kind of become pointless if the people whose lives need saving, can’t get them,” Goodwin pointed out.
Opposition to the Bill
Despite the potential benefits, not everyone supports the bill. The Virginia Biotechnology Association has urged Governor Youngkin to veto it. They argue that price caps might hinder innovation and make it financially unfeasible for some medications to be sold in Virginia.
“Reducing the availability of critical therapies that Virginians rely on to stay healthy,” the organization stated in a letter to Youngkin.
The debate highlights the tension between affordability and pharmaceutical innovation, with both sides arguing for what they believe is in the best interest of patients.
What Happens Next?
Governor Youngkin has until March 24 to decide whether to sign or veto the bill. His decision will directly impact thousands of Virginians who rely on costly prescription drugs to manage chronic illnesses.
For patients like Shapiro and Goodwin, the outcome of this legislation is more than just policy—it’s about survival.
“We need medications to be affordable, so people don’t have to choose between their health and their finances,” Shapiro emphasized.
The coming weeks will be crucial as Virginia watches to see if Youngkin takes a stand for affordable healthcare or sides with concerns over pharmaceutical innovation.
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