(listed alphabetically)

Senator John Breaux (D-LA)

The creation of the Rx Benefits Coalition to promote the use of private sector tools in the management of pharmacy benefits is coming at a critical and needed time in the health care debate. Today's challenges stem from an increasing demand for more and better pharmaceuticals: We need to preserve drug development and medical innovation; we need to ensure that drugs are properly and safely used; and we need to control costs. Affordability, innovation and safety are the cornerstones of the sound pharmacy management services being advocated by the RxBC. I applaud the group's formation, and believe the RxBC will help inform the public debate on these crucial issues.

House Ways and Means Health Chairperson Nancy Johnson (R-CT):

"Prescription drugs are a critical part of patient care today, and their use will only grow as new pharmaceuticals for unmet medical needs are approved. This means the management of both the cost and use of prescription drugs will only become more important. I commend the members of the Rx Benefit Coalition for organizing to ensure that we can manage patients' diseases more effectively in the future."

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA):

I applaud the formation of the Rx Benefits Coalition and its goal of ensuring that consumers have access to safe and affordable prescription drugs. I strongly support the use of market-based tools to improve the delivery of pharmaceuticals to patients and will look forward to working with the members of the Coalition as Congress develops a new prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA):

"Formation of the Rx Benefits Coalition will promote the use of private sector tools to manage of pharmacy benefits. It is important that the businesses that manage patient pharmacy needs contribute to the debate, particularly as we work to develop a prescription drug benefit in a modernized Medicare program. We will be relying on their ability to restrain costs, improve patient care and ensure the safe and effective use of prescription drugs. It's high time that there was a new voice contributing to the discussion."

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