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Oct. 29, 2019 |  By: Keegan Cooper

Prescription drugs in Iowa went up 58%

Advocates for Americans 50 and older want Congress to pass legislation before the end of the year to stop the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs.

Anthony Carroll with AARP Iowa says he heard many disturbing accounts from seniors at the State Fair this summer – from reducing prescription dosages to save money to choosing between medicine and groceries, or fuel to heat their home.

"The average cost of prescription drug treatment in Iowa went up from 2012 to 2017 by 58%.  So people deserve to be outraged."

The lack of progress on alarming drug-pricing increases led the AARP to launch the nationwide "Stop Rx Greed" campaign this year, calling on Congress to rein in drug prices for all Americans. Carroll feels there are enough similarities between the House and Senate bills that legislators should be able to find a compromise by year's end.

"Really it's about taking advantage of this window of opportunity to get a bill passed that resonates with older Iowans and people who are struggling with prescription drug costs.  No Iowan should have to pay the highest price for drugs in the world for the medicines they need."

The average annual cost of prescription treatment in Iowa has jumped 58 percent in recent years, while the average income increased only 7.4 percent. AARP reports that in 2017, 30 percent of Iowans stopped taking medications prescribed, because of cost.