Governor Gretchen Whitmer spoke about prescription drug prices at a round table discussion Thursday morning in Grand Rapids.
The Governor met with officials at Cherry Health as well as a handful of patients—who each described their own struggles with affording prescription drugs and adequate health care.
Speaking with the media afterwards, Whitmer said, while she is cognizant of the fact that while the responsibility of lowering the costs of prescription drugs falls to lawmakers at the federal level, there are still improvements that can be made by the state.
“In a state with 10 million people, we’ve got an incredible responsibility and perhaps opportunity to improve the cost of prescription drugs in Michigan,” Whitmer said. “And that’s why I think it’s important to listen to the people who are providing health care like Cherry, but also the patient who so desperately need solutions.”
Last month, United States Senator Gary Peters of Michigan unveiled a new report on the skyrocketing cost of prescription drug prices and drug shortages, while laying out a series of recommendations for Congress to consider.