1. (a) The General Assembly finds that public reports by Congress and the news media have demonstrated the devastating impact that increasing drug prices can have on the 60% of Americans and 90% of seniors that take prescription drugs.
2. (b) The General Assembly further finds that public reports describe a repeated pattern and practice of price gouging by certain prescription drug manufacturers once they acquire the ownership rights for a new generic drug.
3. (c) The General Assembly further finds that price gouging has forced patients to choose between copayments exceeding tens of thousands of dollars per year and risking their health to find a more affordable drug.
4. (d) The General Assembly further finds that this choice has led patients to delay or forgo necessary medications creating greater health risks and complications.
5. (e) The General Assembly concludes that addressing accessibility of these life-saving medications is a matter of health, safety, and welfare for the People of the State of Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 103-367, eff. 1-1-24.)