Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. Negotiation *Improves* Access
- On Monday, P4ADNow released a video featuring founder David Mitchell setting the record straight on how Medicare negotiation would improve access to drugs, contrary to Big Pharma’s lies that patient access will be harmed. The video complements P4AD’s recent fact check of six false claims in pharma-funded ads. “High prices limit access to medications people need right now. The Democratic plan would actually improve access by allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices,” Mitchell says. “Nothing in the plan limits access to drugs. It’s another Big Pharma big lie.” — (P4ADNow)
2. Another Day, Another Lie
- As congressional Democrats work to include drug pricing reforms like Medicare negotiation in the reconciliation package, pharma is pouring over $18 million in ad spending to protect its ability to dictate prices. In addition to the usual lies about access and innovation, the industry is now claiming that it should not be subjected to new regulations due to its role in developing COVID-19 vaccines. But it’s taxpayers who have largely bankrolled vaccine development — the U.S. government invested in research decades ago that led to the successful mRNA vaccines and has spent over $18 billion since the start of the pandemic on research, manufacturing, and distribution. It’s no surprise that yet another pharma claim fails to hold up to scrutiny. — (Politico)
3. In Case You Weren’t Sure
- New polls show that about 4 out of 5 voters in Florida’s seventh congressional district and 9 out of 10 voters in New Jersey’s fifth district support allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. Insurers are also advocating for Medicare negotiation — the Alliance of Community Health Plans, a coalition of non-profit health insurers across the country, sent a letter to congressional leadership calling for the inclusion of Medicare negotiation in the reconciliation package. Voters, insurers, and employers are all united on this issue. It’s clear what Congress needs to do. — (Florida Politics, New Jersey Globe, Alliance of Community Health Plans)
One more thing: This week, Americans continued to write in support of Medicare negotiation, with powerful letters and op-eds from patients and advocates in Arizona, Nevada, Ohio, and West Virginia.