Lawmakers, local pharmacist question high prescription drug costs

The price of 94 percent of popular brand-name drugs has more than doubled over the last decade, according to research done by AARP.

Senators had harsh words for the drug industry as they vow to investigate why medicines are getting so expensive.

Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole explains the push to cut costs.

“There's a lot of ugly in drug pricing,” said David Bateh who owns Premier Pharmacy in Springfield, has been in the pharmacy business for more than 40 years.

Bateh told Action Cole drug prices have been insanely high for as long as he's been in the business.

“Products go up every year like clockwork, every first of the year, every quarter, there's an increase,” said Bateh.

Now, congressmen are taking a closer look at why these medicines are getting harder for patients to afford.

The drug industry says increased costs related to health insurers are to blame.

Bateh says until a solution is reached, he does everything he can to help the patients who come into his pharmacy.

“We look for coupons online, to try to help them, their co-pay, to try to help them get the price down -- or get it for zero for them for the first month,” said Bateh.

Several bipartisan bills have been introduced aimed at lowering costs.

One would list drug prices on television ads.

Another would allow generic companies to bring cheaper drugs to market faster.

Cox Media Group