Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. 1,100 Reasons To Pass Medicare Negotiation
- A new analysis from P4AD reveals that drug companies have raised the prices of 1,100 drugs so far this year, with 90 percent of hikes over the rate of inflation. This includes hikes on 21 of 25 of the most costly drugs for Medicare Part D and some of the most expensive drugs for Part B. Year after year, drug corporations keep raising prices at will. Our lawmakers have the power to protect patients by passing provisions to allow Medicare to negotiate lower prices for drugs covered by both Part B and D. Congress must act. — (P4AD)
2. “It’s Long Overdue”
- Momentum for Medicare negotiation continues to grow in Washington. President Biden tweeted that his Build Back Better plan includes allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, and White House senior adviser Anita Dunn included Medicare negotiation in her briefing to lawmakers this week. Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, Rep. Jason Crow (CO-06) wrote an op-ed urging his colleagues to “take bold action on drug pricing,” and Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07) delivered a passionate speech calling for Medicare negotiation in the reconciliation bill. We are grateful to all lawmakers fighting for patients’ right to affordable prescription drugs. — (Axios, Sentinel Colorado, P4ADNow)
3. Patients Save With H.R. 3
- Passing H.R. 3 and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices would result in significant savings for patients and taxpayers, according to a new analysis from the Center for American Progress. The authors estimate that H.R. 3 could save patients and taxpayers $176 on a 30-day supply of the diabetes drug Trulicity, and nearly $100,000 on a three-week course of Acthar, a drug that treats multiple sclerosis and other diseases. H.R. 3 will deliver the critical drug pricing reforms that patients need. Let’s get it done. — (Center for American Progress)
One more thing: A new coalition was launched in Virginia today pushing the state legislature to create a prescription drug affordability board, and patient Kat Schroeder shared her story of rationing insulin due to its high price.