AARP Ohio has delivered more than 4,000 petitions to Governor Mike DeWine Wednesday, urging the administration to support two policy solutions to lower prescription drug costs.

The petitions were collected from Ohioans across the state and call for drug price transparency and for the state to use its full purchasing power during negotiations.

AARP Ohio says requiring drug makers to provide transparency and justification for price increases is one of two solutions Ohioans that signed the petition are urging. Using state buying power is the other.

"Promoting transparency around drug prices exposes unfair price-gouging practices, forces accountability for dramatic prices increases and drives costs down," said AARP Ohio's Associate State Director of Advocacy Latoya Peterson.

"Negotiation is a commonsense but powerful approach. Some states have begun buying prescription drugs in bulk for some residents, including Medicaid beneficiaries, state employees and retirees, and prisoners. And some states are joining with each other to create even larger buying pools as a way to bring down the high costs of medicines, " said Peterson.

AARP says they have been tracking drug prices for 12 years, and each year the price for prescription drugs has grown faster than inflation.

"No American should be forced to choose between paying for the medicines they need and paying for food, rent, or other necessities," said Peterson.