Nothing can be more frustrating and disheartening than managing a chronic condition. As a nurse, I dealt with my fair share of patients suffering from chronic diseases, but nothing prepares you for receiving the diagnosis yourself. 

After receiving a diagnosis of arthritis, I tried just about everything to keep my symptoms at bay. As with any other chronic condition, there’s no magic pill to cure arthritis. But thankfully, due to innovation, researchers and scientists have made great strides to improve patients’ quality of life. As a patient myself, I still hold great hopes for the innovative new treatments that could come soon. 

That’s why I’m increasingly concerned about how the administration wants to use Most Favored Nation status regarding prescription medications.  This is a form of government price-setting, which could eventually lead to limited investments in developing new medications.  Without investment in research, we will not see the development of new medications.

I hope we put patients first by focusing on policy solutions that truly help lower costs at the pharmacy counter without threatening the innovation that Pennsylvanians like me rely on. Our elected leaders can start by reforming pharmacy benefit managers and the way they do business.

Veronica Comfort
Allentown, PA