Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is giving thanks to our patient community. Together, we will lower drug prices.
Welcome to the Week In Review!
1. It’s Not Enough
- Yesterday, the Trump administration released two drug pricing rules which take steps in the right direction but fall short of the comprehensive reforms we need to lower the prices of prescription drugs. One, which would pass much needed discounts negotiated by pharmacy benefit managers to patients, is also likely to increase premiums by $50 billion. The second, which would bring the prices of a limited number of Medicare Part B drugs in line with lower prices paid in other countries, is unlikely to go into effect due to legal challenges. Now the use of international reference pricing has been endorsed by the outgoing Republican and incoming Democratic administrations and enjoys bipartisan support in Congress — it’s time for elected officials to seize this momentum and bring down prices for good. — (Politico)
2. Medicare Negotiation Will Save Millions of Lives, Billions of Dollars
- More than 1 million Medicare recipients could die in the next decade because they can’t afford their prescription drugs, a new study released by the West Health Policy Center has found. But, direct Medicare negotiation could save nearly 94,000 lives a year and save taxpayers $476 billion by 2030. This isn’t a hard choice — we need Medicare negotiation now. — (Council for Informed Drug Spending Analysis)
3. Keep It Going
- On Tuesday, the House passed a bipartisan bill that would prevent drug companies from abusing the orphan drug designation to price gouge patients for their medications. Now, patients are counting on the Senate to finish the job and send the bill to the president’s desk. — (FiercePharma)
4. We’ve Done the Work
- The two promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates from Pfizer and Moderna are grounded in federally funded research conducted by scientists at universities, the National Institutes of Health, and the Defense Department. And, the federal government has committed another $454 million to Johnson & Johnson’s potential COVID-19 vaccine. From the beginning, Americans have been investing in groundbreaking technologies that will hopefully save lives — and now, pharma is taking credit and pocketing billions of dollars for the work we’ve done. — (Kaiser Health News)
5. Hey 117th — Lower drug prices
- The general election is over, thank goodness. Now, 80 percent of voters want to see bipartisan congressional action on lowering drug prices, a new poll found. It’s time for lawmakers to deliver on their campaign promises and hold Big Pharma accountable for skyrocketing prices. — (Morning Consult)