Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Hold Drugmakers Accountable for Opioid Epidemic

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hi.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), along with Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wa.), introduced a bicameral bill to penalize drug companies found to be profiting from the opioid epidemic.

The Opioid Crisis Accountability Act of 2018 would target drug companies that engage in false marketing or distribution of opioids and hold top company executives criminally liable.

It would also hold the companies responsible for reimbursing the cost of any negative impact of their products, an amount the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates at more than $78 billion per year.