Bill Cassidy Suddenly Remembers He Represents Louisiana, Not Big Pharma, in Washington D.C. – RedState

U.S. Senator Invoice Cassidy of Louisiana seems to have remembered he represents the Bayou State and never particular curiosity teams like Large Pharma in Washington D.C. On Monday, he issued a press launch stating he’d despatched letters to 2 main pharmaceutical firms asking why they’re refusing to adjust to federal legislation.

I’ve coated this situation lots right here at RedState, and a number of that has been centered on Louisiana for the apparent cause that I dwell right here and host a radio present right here, it’s one of many states that has handed state-level safety of the 340B program, and our Senator Invoice Cassidy is the rating member on the Senate HELP Committee. However the latest press launch is kind of the turnaround from the place Cassidy was way back to… February.

For no less than 5 years, Cassidy has been attempting to severely rein within the 340B drug low cost program, which as beforehand famous right here now advantages a ton of rural, working-class individuals in pink states—like, effectively, Louisiana. Some defenders of that program would say Cassidy’s efforts have been so drastic that “kill this system” is a greater description of what he’s attempting to do than even simply “rein in.”

Cassidy’s opposition to this system goes again a methods. A invoice he launched in 2018 would have banned new enrollments by hospitals in 340B for 2 years, flat out. His press launch about it actually says, “The invoice would prohibit new enrollments within the 340B program for no less than two years…” 

In July 2023, Cassidy wrote an anti-340B op-ed that complained that this system “prices pharmaceutical firms billions.” Let’s put aside the tone-deafness of complaining about Large Pharma poverty at a time when most conservatives’ eyes have been coming out in regards to the large earnings Large Pharma had made within the wake of issues like vaccine mandates, new anti-obesity medicine coming on-line, and extra. 

It’s exhausting to not surprise if Senator Cassidy’s newfound curiosity in standing up for Louisianans is linked to the truth that the 2026 election is creeping nearer. His latest actions would possibly seem to be an effort to remind us that he represents Louisiana in Washington, D.C., but it surely’s value asking if this press launch is extra than simply political posturing. 

Starting in 2020, a number of drug producers introduced restrictions on coated entities allotting 340B medicine to sufferers via a number of contract pharmacies, stating the restrictions would lower down on illegal duplicate reductions and diversion of 340B medicine to ineligible sufferers. These restrictions restrict coated entities’ capacity to dispense 340B medicine from a couple of contract pharmacy.  

Provided that Eli Lilly and Amgen are among the many producers imposing restrictions on coated entities, Cassidy is requesting info to higher perceive the businesses’ justifications for the restrictions and the way the restrictions have an effect on distribution of 340B medicine.  

The 340B program, which gives reasonably priced treatment to rural communities and helps native hospitals, is essential for Louisiana—particularly for the reason that state has handed legal guidelines defending this system on the native degree.

Regardless of his present stance, Senator Cassidy has traditionally labored to weaken this program on the nationwide degree, typically showing out of step along with his constituents who depend on it. Because the rating member on the Senate HELP Committee, his affect in shaping healthcare insurance policies is important, making his latest actions value analyzing extra intently.

In his letters, dated September thirteenth, Cassidy requested that Eli Lilly and Amgen disclose all inner communications concerning their choices to impose restrictions on distributing 340B medicine to contract pharmacies, asking for a response by October fifteenth. This transfer raises a necessary query: Is Cassidy lastly dedicated to holding Large Pharma accountable, or is that this merely an try to curry favor with voters who overwhelmingly help the 340B program?

As we wait to see whether or not Senator Cassidy genuinely challenges the pharmaceutical giants or merely continues his historical past of siding with them, Louisianans deserve extra than simply rhetoric. They want actual advocacy that goes past marketing campaign posturing, particularly when the stakes are as excessive as entry to reasonably priced treatment and healthcare.