Home Virginia candidates speak directly to families who cannot afford prescription drugs
Local

Virginia candidates speak directly to families who cannot afford prescription drugs

Crystal Graham
prescription drugs
(© JJAVA – stock.adobe.com)

As we get closer to Election Day on November 7, a growing number of Democratic candidates on the ballot are sharing messages on social media in support of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board.

De. Suhas Subramanyam (D-32), Del. Angelia Williams Graves (D-21) and Rae Cousins, a Democratic candidate for the House District 79, are among candidates sharing messages on Twitter, or X, this week.

A PDAB is an independent board of experts with the power to cap the prices of certain high-cost prescription drugs.

While there was momentum toward a board in the 2023 legislative session, the bill was ultimately killed in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC recently received a $60,000 contribution from PhRMA, the lead opponents of the bill who fought against the PDAB in Virginia, according to Freedom Virginia, a nonpartisan 501c4 organization who works on behalf of Virginians for affordable healthcare, among other initiatives.

In total, 85 bipartisan nominees have declared support for a PDAB, including 61 candidates for House of Delegates and 24 candidates for Virginia Senate.

Establishing a PDAB has the support of 82 percent of Virginia voters, including Republicans and Democrats. According to Freedom Virginia, one in four Virginia residents skip or ration their prescription drug medication due to high costs.

Support AFP




Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]

Latest News

brian white virginia tech
Etc.

Virginia Tech names Florida Atlantic AD Brian White as the new director of athletics

trash middle river augusta county
Local

Augusta County: Illegal dumping becomes somebody else’s problem

Somebody too lazy to take their trash to one of the many dump sites in Augusta County created one of their own on Bald Rock Road near Verona. A volunteer with Friends of the Middle River happened upon the scene on Monday, in the vicinity of the location where somebody dumped 100 used tires last...

missing person
Local

Missing person alert: Augusta County man last seen on June 11

The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance with locating Paul Lavelle Hassett Jr., 72, who was last seen around June 11 at his Staunton residence, and was reported missing today by a family member.

joe tiroly uva baseball
Baseball

UVA Baseball: Four ‘Hoos get invites to the 2026 MLB Draft Combine

augusta county sheriff's office
Local

Augusta County: Teen fled cops, twice, last week, and they still can’t find him

jay huff uva basketball
Basketball

Jay Huff, Jacob Gilyard named to the USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team

data center technology networking
Politics, Virginia

Poll: Virginia residents make it clear where they stand on data centers