PATIENTS NEED LOWER DRUG PRICES – NOT POLICIES THAT WOULD MEAN FEWER PHARMACIES
Urge lawmakers to oppose legislation that would force pharmacy closures and drive up costs for patients.
Quick Context
With our rural hospitals already under threat, Oklahoma is considering a bill – HB 3538 – that would risk some types of pharmacies to close, too. But that same bill would do nothing to lower drug prices. So patients still face unaffordable insulin, cancer drugs, and specialty medications.
But the proposed law raises patients’ real cost: we keep paying manufacturers’ monopoly prices PLUS new transportation costs, time costs, and health costs from reduced access. It also would close multiple types of pharmacies – retail locations, mail-order services, and specialty pharmacies. That means, for example:
- Rural patients in Oklahoma would lose both local pharmacies AND mail-order alternatives, and
- Limited mobility patients would lose home delivery options
In other words, this bill hurts our people most: Uninsured, underinsured, rural, elderly, and disabled patients. We are exactly the Oklahomans who most need lower drug prices, but we will lose accessible pharmacies while drug prices stay high. This is not a commonsense way to address affordability issues in our state.
Take Action: Contact Your Legislators
Your voice matters. Tell your Oklahoma state lawmakers to vote NO to HB 3538 and keep pharmacy access close to home.
Why This Matters to OKLAHOMANS
1 in 4 adults report difficulty affording prescription medications
Hundreds of thousands of patients may lose access to the pharmacy services they count on.
This bill hurts Oklahomans who can least afford it: Uninsured, underinsured, rural, elderly, and disabled patients. The added financial strain will come from increased transportation costs, time costs, and health costs from reduced access.
pharmacy deserts would affect more than half of oklahoma counties
HB 3538 would compound rural access problems. 40 counties already have a pharmacy desert.
HB 3538, which targets some pharmacies based on ownership, will cause unintended harm to patients – especially rural Oklahomans – who depend on those pharmacies & mail-order services. The reality is that HB 3538 mandates closures and sell-offs of pharmacies Oklahomans depend on today.
What Happens Next
✓ Your message will be delivered to your lawmakers
✓ We’ll keep you updated on Oklahoma drug price accountability and prescription drug access legislation
✓ Your voice joins other Oklahomans calling for drug price reform