Drugs cost too much because the pharmaceutical industry charges too much. It's that simple.

It's time to take action to ensure drug prices are more affordable for all Oregonians.

Oregon Coalition for Affordable Prescriptions (OCAP) was founded in 2017 with a single goal in mind: lowering prescription drug prices for Oregonians. A diverse coalition of over 20 allies came together, including everyday people affected by high drug prices, health care providers and plans, labor groups, and community organizations. Together, we’ve been able to make a big impact in holding the pharmaceutical industry accountable for their outrageous price gouging.

Transparency laws OCAP worked to help pass in recent legislative sessions have confirmed what we suspected: prescriptions cost too much because Big Pharma charges too much. But we don’t have to accept it.

Now more than ever, Oregonians can’t afford to wait to rein in skyrocketing prescription drug prices. Stay connected with OCAP to receive updates about our top priorities for future legislative sessions.

 

Our Record of Advocacy & Success

The Oregon Coalition for Affordable Prescriptions has successfully helped pass four new laws aimed at lowering prescription drug costs and holding Big Pharma accountable:

2018

OCAP successfully helped pass HB 4005, the Prescription Drug Pricing Transparency Act, with a bipartisan supermajority. Since then, manufacturers have to report increases of 10% or more through Oregon’s Prescription Drug Pricing Transparency Program. What we’ve learned from the data collected confirmed what we already knew: the pharmaceutical industry is making life-saving medications unaffordable for Oregonians.

2019

OCAP successfully helped pass HB 2658, which creates 60-day advance notice of price increases. We knew that similar legislation passed in other states was effective in curbing price increases, and at the very least would give Oregonians time to find alternatives. The bill passed with overwhelming support.

2020 *Session Cut Short

During the short legislative session, OCAP worked to make drug importation from Canada a reality in order to provide Oregonians with desperately needed relief from high drug prices. However, the 2020 session was cut short after lawmakers walked out of the building and halted most legislation.

2021

OCAP successfully helped pass SB 844, which creates a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) in Oregon to help curb skyrocketing costs, as well as SB 763 will help hold Big Pharma accountable by requiring sales reps to register and report their activity to the state.

2023

OCAP successfully helped pass SB 192, which tasked the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) with developing a plan for establishing upper payment limits (UPLs) on prescription drugs deemed unaffordable by PDAB. The report findings were presented to the Senate Interim Committee on Health Care in December of 2024. Watch presentation.

 

Our Leadership

  • John Mullin, Board Chair (former HSCO Chair, Oregon Law Center, and AARP Oregon)
  • Richard Blackwell, Board Treasurer (Pacific Source)
  • Emerson Hamlin, Board Secretary (Oregon Nurses Association)
  • Inga Deckert, Board Member (Kaiser Permanente)
  • Marcus Mundy, Board Member (Coalition of Communities of Color)
  • Odalis Aguilar, Board Member (AFSCME Council 75)
  • Christi Marcotte, Board Member (Oregon Heathcare Provider)

Partners