Ashby Urges Hochul Administration To Back Off Proposed Prescription Drug Fees

Yesterday, Sen. Jake Ashby (R,C-Castleton) wrote the Department of Financial Services urging them to reverse course on their plan to impose a new $10.18 fee on every prescription filled statewide.

“Seniors living on fixed incomes, parents raising families and New Yorkers with chronic health issues simply can’t afford this. If regulators are imposing costs on citizens without making a product safer or more effective, they’re just overreaching. These fees are unfair, totally arbitrary and exceed the scope of the enacting legislation. The administration needs to reconsider this,” said Ashby.

Ashby noted that New Yorkers already pay some of the highest medical insurance premiums in the country. This year, the Hochul administration allowed premiums to increase 12%, roughly four times the current rate of inflation.

Ashby noted that the proposed regulations would also reduce standards for specialty pharmacies, impact home delivery options and interfere with private contracting terms.

“The administration needs to realize that their affordability crisis impacts every sector of our economy, especially healthcare. When it’s about prescription drugs, it’s not just about numbers on a balance sheet. It’s literally life or death. They can’t move forward with these fees. I’m ready to work with my colleagues to reduce healthcare costs and make lifesaving care more accessible and affordable for all New Yorkers,” said Ashby.