On Aug 12th, Congresswoman Kathy Castor, State Rep. Susan Valdés, and Tampa health care advocates held a press conference at Health Matters Community Pharmacy to call out Rick Scott for opposing legislation to lower prescription drug costs for Florida seniors.

The speakers slammed Scott for voting against major prescription drug reforms, including legislation to cap annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 for nearly four million Florida seniors, cap the monthly out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 for Medicare recipients, empower Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices, and stop Big Pharma from raising drug prices faster than the rate of inflation.

Click here to download video of the press conference. See key excerpts below: 

“He voted against capping the price of insulin. He voted against allowing Medicare to negotiate fair prices. He has never been on the side of working people. He’s put Medicare in his sights. Rick Scott always sides with Big Pharma and the big drug companies over the best interest of our neighbors, and it’s time for us to do something about it,” said Congresswoman Kathy Castor. 

“Unfortunately, Floridians shouldn’t be surprised by his behavior and his history of attacking health care. We all remember: he oversaw the largest Medicare fraud in history and wrote the plan to end Social Security and Medicare programs,” said State Representative Susan Valdés.

“Rick Scott is one of the wealthiest members of Congress, but he doesn’t think my patients deserve to receive their medications without going bankrupt. That’s why we need a change. We need a Senator who will fight to lower prescription drug costs and make health care more affordable. Rick Scott has turned his back on my patients and he needs to go,” said Dr. Vondalyn Wright. 

“My patients, along with 4 million Florida seniors on Medicare Part D, depend on this critical program to get medicine that would otherwise be too expensive to afford. That’s why I’m disgusted by Rick Scott’s attacks on seniors’ health care,” said Dr. Amber Williams-Banks.