[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, "ARIZONA HORIZON" HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS HORIZON."

ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS HELPING KEEP PETS SAFE DURING THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA HAS A NEW STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

SHE IS KATHRYN HACKETT KING.

SHE WAS APPOINTED TODAY BY THINK GOVERNOR TO FILL THE VACANCY FORMED BY FORMER JUSTICE ANDREW GOULD RETIREMENT IN MARCH.

SHE CLERKED FOR FORMER STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MICHAEL D. RYAN.

TODAY'S APPOINTMENT WAS THE SIXTH JUSTICE THAT GO-GO HAS APPOINTED TO THE SUPREME COURT.

>>> NATIONAL NEWS, PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THE U.S. MILITARY MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN WILL END ON AUGUST 31ST.

IT WAS HIS FIRST FORMAL ADDRESS ON AFGHANISTAN SINCE THE MILITARY PULLED OUT LAST WEEK.

>> THE UNITED STATES DID WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN AFGHANISTAN, TO GET THE TERRORISTS WHO ATTACKED US ON 9/11 AND DELIVER JUSTICE TO OSAMA BIN LADEN.

AND TO KEEP AFGHANISTAN FROM BECOMING A BASE WHERE ATTACKS COULD BE CONTINUED AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.

WE ACHIEVED THOSE OBJECTIVES.

THAT'S WHY WE WENT.

WE DID NOT GO TO AFGHANISTAN TO NATIONVILLE.

AND IT'S THE RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AFGHAN PEOPLE ALONE TO DECIDE THEIR FUTURE, AND HOW THEY WANT TO RUN THEIR COUNTRY.

>> THE REMOVAL OF TROOPS ENDS U.S. MILITARY OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN AFTER NEARLY TWO DECADES OF WAR.

>>> THE TOKYO OLYMPICS WILL BE HELD WITHOUT SPECTATORS IN THE STANDS AFTER THE GOVERNMENT DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN A SURGE OF THE COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT.

ORGANIZERS SAID THE SIESZ OF THE CROWDS EXPECTED TO GATHER WAS TOO MUCH OF A RISK.

>>> A NEW WORLDWIDE STUDY HAS IDENTIFIED GENETIC FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 AND SEVERE ILLNESS.

THEY FOUND THAT LOCATIONS ON THE HUMAN GENOME THAT ARE STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH COVID, INCLUDE A GENE LINKED TO LUNG CANCER, ANOTHER LINKED TO PULMONARY FIBROSIS, AND ANOTHER LINKED TO SOME AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES.

SMOKING AND HIGH BODY MASSES WERE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH RISK FACTORS >>> TOM O'HALLERAN JOINS SOME OFFICIALS ASH THE STATE TO CALL FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN ARIZONA.

>> PERHAPS NO ONE HAS FELT THE SIDE EFFECTS OF OUR CHANGING CLIMATE SO ACUTELY AS THE CITIZENS OF ARIZONA.

CLIMATE CHANGE COUPLED WITH HISTORIC DECADES-LONG DROUGHT HAS BORN WILDFIRE AFTER WILDFIRE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL DISTRICT AND ACROSS ARIZONA AND SOUTHWEST IN PARTICULAR.

>> HE FOCUSED ON INVESTMENT S, INCLUDING MODERNIZING THE STATE'S INFRASTRUCTURE, ALONG WITH BUILDING A STRONGER CLEAN-ENERGY ECONOMY.

>>> THIS COMES AS IT IS REPORTED THAT THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST IS SEEING SOME OF THE DIEST CONDITIONS THEY HAVE SEEN IN MORE THAN A CENTURY.

AS FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, IT HASN'T BEEN THIS DRY SINCE 1895.

ANALYSIS SAYS THAT, QUOTE, VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN-CAUSED CLIMATE CHANGE.

>>> THE PANDEMIC HIT BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX HARD, BUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS COMING BACK TO LIFE WITH THE EASING OF COVID CASES AND THE INCREASE IN VACCINATIONS.

THE PHOENIX SUNS' NBA CHAMPIONSHIP RUN IS ALSO MAKING AN IMPACT.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH DEVNEY PROYSS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF DOWNTOWN PHOENIX INC. DEVNEY PROYSS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WHERE EXACTLY IS DOWNTOWN PHOENIX?

>> WELL, DOWNTOWN PHOENIX IS THE HEART OF OUR CITY.

IT'S LOCATED -- AS WE DESCRIBE THE DOWNTOWN AREA FROM DAHL ROAD ON THE NORTH, AND THE PHOENIX SUNS ARENA, AND BETWEEN 7TH AVENUE AND 7TH STREETS, AND THEN TO THE NORTH BETWEEN 7TH STREET AND 3RD AVENUE.

>> YEAH, SO THE CONCENTRATED AREA IS THERE.

HOW MANY BARS OR RESTAURANTS EITHER SUFFERED OR CLOSED DURING THE PANDEMIC?

OR HOTELS AND OTHER BUSINESSES AS WELL.

>> SURE.

WE TALK ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN, AND THOSE ARE OUR PARAMETERS, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ALSO PART OF THE DOWNTOWN AS WELL.

EAST LAKE, CENTRAL CITY SOUTH, AND THEY HAVE RESTAURANTS AND SMALL LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC, AND TRYING TO SHOW THOSE AREAS AS WELL AND PROMOTE ALL OF US.

BUT SURPRISINGLY, WHILE WE DID LOSE SOME BARS AND RESTAURANTS, AND WE WERE SAD TO LOSE JUST ONE.

WE LOST ABOUT 10% DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THIS SUMMER WE ACTUALLY HAVE MORE BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

AND SOME CHOSE TO RETIRE, SOME HAD LEASES THAT WERE EXPIRING, AND THOSE SPACES HAVE BEEN QUICKLY REPLACED BY MORE LOCALLY OWNED.

AND WE WERE CONCERNS WE WOULD BE LOSING THAT LOCALLY-OWNED FEEL, AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES OUR SIDEWALKS TO VIBRANT, BUT WE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THOSE WE LOST REPLACED WITH MORE LOCALLY OWNED.

>> WHAT DID YOU SEE AS FAR AS HOTELS WERE CONCERNED?

THIS >> THEY WERE HIT JUST AS HARD AS THE VENUES.

AND THEY CLOSED THEIR DOORS COMPLETELY FOR THE MOST PART.

WE HAD ONE OR TWO THAT REMAINED OPEN, BECAUSE THEY SERVICE OUR AIRLINE PARTNERS, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN, BUT MANY OF THEM CLOSED THEIR DOORS.

SOME WERE -- WERE GOING THROUGH RENOVATIONS, AND IF THERE'S ONE BRIGHT SPOT DURING THIS PANDEMIC, THERE IS SO MUCH CONSTRUCTION THAT HAD STARTED GOING INTO IT, HOTELS THAT PLANNED RENOVATIONS, LIGHT RAIL CONSTRUCTION THAT HAD STARTED, AND IN MANY WAYS THAT WORK WAS SPED UP, AND WITH FEWER PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALKS AND STREETS, MORE OF THAT WORK WAS COMPLETED BEFORE WE RETURNED TO OUR OFFICES DOWNTOWN.

>> SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THINGS ARE GETTING BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

>> THEY ARE.

>> AND YOU HAVE THE PHOENIX SUNS MAKING A RUN.

>> YEAH.

>> AND TO KNOW YOU HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FANS DOWNTOWN.

IS THERE -- HOW DO YOU -- HOW DO YOU QUANTIFY THE DIFFERENCE A SUCCESSFUL TEAM MAKES?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, BUT A VERY HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER.

WE HAVE BEEN REOPEN IN A SENSE, SEEING PEOPLE COMING BACK TO DOWNTOWN SINCE PROBABLY FEBRUARY.

A LOT OF VISITORS IN TOWN.

ARIZONA BEING REOPENED EARLIER THAN MOST, SO WE HAVE BEEN SEEING VISITORS BACK ON OUR SIDEWALKS VISITING OUR BUSINESSES.

AND OUR OFFICE TOWERS ARE BRINGING THEIR BUSINESSES BACK, AND WE'RE SEEING MORE BEING ABLE TO VISIT OUR BUSINESSES, AND OUR COFFEE SHOPS.

WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT RECOVERED.

THERE IS STILL A LOT OF SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED, AND A RUN LIKE THE PHOENIX SUNS ARE HAVING CURRENTLY COULDN'T HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME.

THERE'S AN ENERGY, AND EXCITEMENT.

THERE'S THAT POSITIVITY THAT SO MANY OF US LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC, BECAUSE WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE SEEM ON OUR SIDEWALKS AND ENJOYING DOWNTOWN.

SO TO HAVE VISITORS COMING BACK.

NAY ARE PUSHING BUSINESS, AGAIN, INTO OUR RESTAURANTS.

THE WAY HE LOOK AT IT, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THAT REVENUE THAT DIRECT BUSINESS, BUT IT'S PEOPLE COMING TO THE ARENA WHO HAVEN'T BEEN DOWNTOWN IN DECADES.

OR THEY AREN'T BEEN HERE IN THE LAST YEAR, AND DOWNTOWN HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST YEAR EVEN, SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A DOWNTOWN ORGANIZATION TO MAKE SURE THAT EXPERIENCE IS MEMORABLE.

>> IN TERMS OF DIRECT SPENDING, TAX REVENUE, AND JUST ADDITIONAL JOBS FOR THOSE THAT WORK THESE EVENTS AND WORK AT THE HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS, AND SUCH, THOSE THINGS CAN BE MEASURED AND MEASURED AT A TIME -- THE OTHER NIGHT THE DIAMONDBACKS WERE PLAYING, THE SUNS WERE PLAYING.

THERE WERE A LOT OF FOLKS DOWNTOWN.

>> OH, THE ENERGY WAS AMAZING.

OUR STAFF IS OVER THE MOON TO HAVE FANS BACK.

TUESDAY 9:00 A.M. SIDEWALKS ARE PACKED.

WE ALSO HAVE CONVENTIONS BACK.

MANY CONVENTIONS HAVE -- HAVE REBOOKED, RESCHEDULED, AND THEY ARE HAPPENING NOW IN THE SUMMER MONTHS AND OUR HOTELS ARE FULL BECAUSE OF IT, AND WITH THE SUNS FINAL RUN, IT IS NOT A BIG RUN AS FAR AS DRAWING VISITORS FROM OUT OF STATE, BUT IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT.

PEOPLE ARE GRABBING A BITE TO EAT OR DRINK BEFORE AND AFTER THE GAME.

THE PARKING LOT ATTENDANTS, THE GUEST SERVICES AT THE ARENA, OF COURSE, THEY ARE ALL WORKING LONG DAYS THERE.

SO I CAN'T PUT INTO WORDS HOW IMPACTFUL IT IS, AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO OUR DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, THE ENERGY, POSITIVITY, AND EXCITEMENT, AND ALL EYES ARE ON DOWNTOWN.

THERE IS NO BETTER MEGA BOARD THAN A MAJOR SPORTING EVENT LIKE THIS.

THERE ARE NOW INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES WHO ARE SEEING SHOTS OF DOWNTOWN PHOENIX, AND HOPEFULLY SEEING FOLKS ON THE SIDEWALKS, AND ALSO BUSINESS LEADERS, AND MAYBE THEY ARE CONSIDERING RELOCATING OR EXPANDING, AND NOW PERHAPS DOWNTOWN IS ON THEIR RADAR SCREEN NOW.

>> YEAH.

DEVNEY PROYSS, LOTS OF OPTIMISM NOW.

GOOD CONVERSATION, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> OH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> AND UP NEXT, A LOOK AT THE PHOENIX SUNS OUTREACH TO LATINO FANS AS THE TEAM'S CHAMPIONSHIP RUN CONTINUES.

>>> THE PHOENIX SUNS HAVE BEEN DOING OUTREACH TO LATINO FANS FOR YEARS.

AND IT'SEST SPESHLTLY HELPFUL WHEN ONE OF THAT TEAM'S STARS, IN THIS CASE, DEVIN BOOKER, HAS TIES TO MEXICO.

JOSE CARDENAS TALKED ABOUT IT WITH SUNS' SPANISH-LANGUAGE COLOR ANALYST JUAN URRESTI.

>> JUAN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU ARE THE COLOR ANALYST FOR THE PHOENIX SUNS.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THAT?

>> WELL, HELLO, EVERYONE.

THIS HAS BEEN MY FIRST YEAR -- I HAVE BEEN WITH THE TEAM SINCE PRESEASON AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FINALS, WHICH WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE DOING THIS YEAR.

>> THE SUNS ARE POPULAR WITH EVERYBODY IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX OR THE STATE OF ARIZONA, BUT PARTICULARLY THE LATIN COMMUNITY, HOW MUCH OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT DEVIN BOOKER'S MOTHER IS HISPANIC.

>> WELL, THE HISPANIC PEOPLE, WE LOVE OUR SPORTS, SO I DON'T THINK IT IS THAT MUCH PART OF DEVIN BOOKER OR HIS GRANDFATHER BEING FROM MEXICO.

IT'S MORE ABOUT THE SUNS PLAYING REALLY GOOD.

AND THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, WE ALWAYS SUPPORT THE TEAMS THIS PLAY REALLY GOOD, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT HIS ROOTS ARE FROM MEXICO, IT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE GET TO LOVE ABOUT DEVIN BOOKER MORE, BUT IT'S MORE ABOUT HIS PLAY, AND WHAT HE DOES FOR THE TEAM, MORE THAN HIS ROOTS.

>> OF COURSE, AND I TAKE IT HE HAS EMBRACED HIS ROOTS AS WELL?

>> YES.

HE HAS TALKED IN DIFFERENT INTERVIEWS ABOUT IT.

AND HE -- THE ONLY THING IS, HE -- HE DOESN'T SPEAK TOO MUCH SPANISH, WE HE ALSO SAYS HE WOULD LOVE TO LEARN MORE -- IT IS SOMETHING HE WOULD LIKE TO DO IN THE FUTURE.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE SUNS OUTREACH TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, THE FRANCHISE HAS REACHED THE LATINO COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT SINCE THE LA-SUNS MOVEMENT IN SOCIAL MEDIA, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY HAVE -- THEY CARE ABOUT THE SPANISH COMMUNITY.

AND ALSO RADIO, TV, SPANISH GAMES, WHICH HELP WITH A LOT OF HISPANIC HOMES IN ARIZONA.

BUT THE TEAM CARES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND THE COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THE SUNS.

>> I HAVE BEEN AROUND THE VALLEY FOR A LONG TIME.

I'M A LONG TIME -- I SHOULD ALONG-SUFFERING SUNS FAN.

I REMEMBER WHEN THEY UNVEILED THEIR LA-SUNS JERSEYS IN PROTEST TO THE IMMIGRATION LAW, AND THAT WON THEM A LOT OF SUPPORT IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY, BUT IT WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

>> YES, DURING THOSE TIMES, IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WE GOT HIT WITH -- WITH EVERYTHING ON BOTH SIDES, AND THE SUNS WERE A PART OF SUPPORT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, AND THE COMMUNITY REALLY APPRECIATES THAT.

NAY REMEMBER EVERY TIME THAT THE SUNS, YOU KNOW, CAME OUT IN SUPPORT TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, AND THE COMMUNITY REALLY APPRECIATES THE SUNS.

>> IN ADDITION TO SPANISH-LANGUAGE RADIO, I UNDERSTAND THERE IS SOME SPANISH-LANGUAGE TV COVERAGE, AND THERE IS EVEN A SONG IN SPANISH?

>> YES, IT WAS A SONG IN SPANISH THAT WAS DONE THIS YEAR BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS, AND PEOPLE REALLY LOVED THE SONG.

THEY SING IT -- YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE -- WHENEVER THERE IS A HISPANIC GROUP, THEY SING THE SONG, AND IT'S SOMEBODY THE TEAM AND ABOUT THE SUCCESS THAT THE TEAM HAS DONE THIS YEAR.

>> THAT IS KIND OF THE TRADITIONAL MEXICAN STORY SONG.

JUAN URRESTI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, COLOR ANALYST OF THE PHOENIX SUNS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND GOOD LUCK TO THE SUNS.

GO SUNS.

>> THANK YOU, JOSE, AND YEAH, GO SUNS.

>> GRACIAS.

♪♪ ♪ >>> PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES ARE INCREASING AT MORE THAN TWICE THE INFLATION RATE.

IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.

TOGETHER AS PART OF OUR AARP-SPONSORED SEGMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OLDER ADULTS IN ARIZONA, WE LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES KEEP GOING UP AND WHAT CAN WE DONE ABOUT IT.

WE WELCOME AARP'S LEIGH PURVIS.

>>> WELCOME.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DRUG PRICES INCREASING TWO TIMES THE INFLATION RATE SINCE 2006.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>> UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS A STORY WE HAVE BEEN SEEING FOR YEARS.

AND DRUG PLACES ARE INCREASING SUBSTANTIALLY FASTER THAN INFLATION.

>> DO WE KNOW WHY -- CHECK THAT -- DO WE SEE IT ACCELERATED DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> ACTUALLY IT SLOWS A BIT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> INTERESTING.

>> YES.

>> BUT THERE'S NO REASON FOR THAT.

WHICH MEANS THERE'S NO REASON FOR BUSINESS TO GO BACK TO NORMAL NOW.

>> YEAH, 90% OF THE TOP 50 BRAND NAMES INCREASED PRICES OVER INFLATION RATES, AND THE AVERAGE ANNUAL COST FOR ONE BRAND NAME -- 6600 FOR ONE MEDICATION?

>> UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS THE CASE.

AND WHAT WE LOOK AT IS HOW MANY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS PEOPLE ARE TAKING ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND OLDER AMERICANS TAKE AROUND FIVE PER MONTH.

SO THEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT A TRUE COST OF ABOUT 31$3,100.

>> SO WE KNOW WHICH ONES HAD THE MOST INCREASES.

>> THE ONES THAT TREAT KIDNEY DISEASE, AND ONES THAT TREAT ANXIETY, AND A VARIETY OF DRUGS, BUT ONES THAT EFFECT PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH SEEM TO BE THE HIGHEST.

>> ARE THESE RELATIVELY NEW MEDICATIONS?

>> ACTUALLY THEY ARE NOT.

>> SO WHAT REASONS ARE THE DRUG COMPANIES GIVING FOR THESE PRICE INCREASES?

>> THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF REASONS, NOT A LOT OF WHICH HOLD A LOT OF WATER.

DRUG PRICES GO UP, BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING IN THE U.S. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TO STOP THEM.

>> AND THAT'S JUST THE BOTTOM LINE, RIGHT?

THEY CAN DO IT, BECAUSE THEY CAN DO IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS.

AND ONE IDEA IS ALLOWING MEDICARE TO NEGOTIATE THE PRICE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

HOW WOULD THIS WORK?

>> RIGHT NOW NEGOTIATION DOES TAKE PLACE UNDER PART D. BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE PLACE AT THE MEDICARE LEVEL.

WHICH HAS A LOT STRONGER NEGOTIATING POWER.

SO WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING TO GIVE MEDICARE THAT AUTHORITY.

>> AND ALLOWING OTHER INSURERS AS WELL TO NEGOTIATE THE SAME PRICES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS A CHALLENGE THAT IF YOU CAN REDUCE PRICES IN ONE PART OF THE MARKET, IT WILL STOP DRUG MANUFACTURERS FROM INCREASING PRICES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE MARKET.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND INFLATION-BASED REBATES IF PRICES INCREASE FASTER THAN INFLATION.

SEEMS RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD?

>> IT IS.

AND THERE IS SOMETHING SIMILAR UNDER THE MEDICAID POPULATION.

AND IT IS EFFECTIVELY A PENALTY ON DRUG MANUFACTURERS, AND WE THINK THEY COULD ENCOURAGE THEM.

>> AND ANOTHER IDEA IS OUT OF POCKET SPENDING CAPS, I GUESS FOR PART D IN PARTICULAR, BUT DOES IT APPLY TO OTHERS AS WELL.

>> WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY IS MEDICARE PART D. THEY DON'T HAVE A HARD OUT OF POCKET CAP, AND THAT'S WHY COSTS CAN EXCEED $10,000 A YEAR.

SO WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE A HARD OUT OF POCKET CAP.

>> THREE SOLUTIONS RIGHT THERE.

HOW LIKELY ANY OF THESE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT?

WHAT KIND OF TRUCK -- TRACTION HAVE YOU SEEN?

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS FLOATING AROUND IN CONGRESS THAT INCLUDE ALL OR SOME OF THESE SOLUTIONS.

>> AND DOES THE PANDEMIC CHANGE THAT PARTICULAR DYNAMIC?

>> I THINK IT HAS IN THE SENSE THAT YOU ARE CERTAINLY SEEING MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING ECONOMICALLY, AND THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD SEVERE CONSEQUENCES WHEN IT COMES TO INCOME AND JOB LOSS, SO I THINK THERE'S A REAL PUSH TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.

>> AND WITH THE AGING OF AMERICA, THIS BECOMES A BIGGER AND BIGGER -- FOLKS ARE LIVING LONGER -- GETTING OLDER AND LIVING LONGER.

SOMETHING HAS GOT TO GIVE HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING THESE HIGH PRICES AND HAVING TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER TO TAKE THE DRUGS THEY NEED OR PAY FOR RENT OR FOOD.

>> HOW OFTEN ARE WE SEEING THOSE DECISIONS BEING MADE?

>> UNFORTUNATELY MORE AND MORE.

WE HEAR MORE FROM OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE HAVING THOSE STRUGGLES.

BECAUSE THE REALITY IS NOT TAKING YOUR PRESCRIPTION DRUG TODAY, COULD LEAD TO MORE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.

>> LEIGH, WHAT DO WE WATCH FOR IN ALL OF THIS?

ER >> WE CERTAINLY ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS A TIPPING POINT.

WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE DRUGS COMING ON THE MARKET WITH INCREDIBLY HIGH PRICES, AND WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE PRICE INCREASES.

WE'RE SEEING DRUGS TAKING PRICE INCREASES AFTER THEY COME ON THE MARKET, AND IT REALLY IS KIND OF A TIPPING POINT.

THESE DRUGS SIMPLY ARE NOT EFFECTIVE IF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO USE THEM.

>> LEIGH PURVIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF ARIZONA NEWS, A TRIP TO LOS ANGELES.

AND ON AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

♪♪