The Daily Delegate

By Lior Robinson

Youth & Government student legislators in California are proposing  a bill to address the rising cost of prescription medications and protect the health of their communities. Many families struggle to afford essential drugs, sometimes forced to choose between paying for medicine and paying for basic needs, and real stories show how serious this issue has become. For example 26-year-old Alec Smith died after he began rationing his insulin because he could not afford the full cost, leaving him without the life-saving medication he depended on. In another recent case, a 22-year-old man named Cole Schmidtknecht could not afford his daily asthma inhaler after the price suddenly rose from about $66 to more than $500, and he died days later after being unable to get the medication he needed. Insulin is a clear example of the larger problem: before price caps, some patients paid as much as $300-$400 per month and many were forced to ration doses, risking serious health complications.

Emergency allergy treatment is also affected. The price of a two-pack of EpiPens rose from around $100 in 2007 to over $600 by 2016, even though the medication inside costs only a few dollars to produce, showing how large markups can occur. Federal data also shows that prescription drug prices increased by 

2.0% in 2025,continuing the financial pressure of patients. The proposed bill would reduce these costs by placing limits on excessive pricing and requiring more transparency in the pharmacy supply chain. By lowering drug prices, the bill would also keep more money in local communities. Families would have more income for rent, groceries, and other necessities instead of spending it on overpriced medications, and fewer medical emergencies would reduce strain on hospitals and public health programs.

Overall, the bill combines compassion and practicality: it responds to real stories of people harmed by high drug prices, uses data showing rising costs, and proposes a system that redirects savings back into the community. As a proposal created by civic-minded students working within the Youth & Government legislative process, it reflects responsible leadership and a commitment to everyone’s well-being.