In a recent Letter to the Editor with the headline, “Drug company greed hurts seniors,” the author misses the mark on why Pennsylvania residents are having trouble affording the medicines they need.

For starters, any conversation about why patient out-of-pocket costs are rising must include the role of insurers and pharmacy benefits managers, who ultimately determine what individuals pay for prescription drugs at the pharmacy counter.

Pharmaceutical companies provide billions of dollars in rebates and other discounts to these “middlemen.” However, these middlemen are under no obligation to use these rebates to lower patients’ out-of-pocket drug costs and in turn can keep the money as profit.

It's also important to point out that AARP has long-standing financial ties to the insurance industry and receives billions of dollars each year from insurance companies. So who are they really advocating for?

Let’s stop with the reckless rhetoric, and do what the people of Pennsylvania do best: Roll up our sleeves, come together and work to truly solve this issue. And let’s do it in a way that ensures that patients have access to the innovative medicines they need at out-of-pocket costs they can afford. Pennsylvania seniors deserve nothing less.

Jim Greenwood, president and CEO

Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Former Bucks County Congressman