Broadway reopened, but final curtain call is coming for Big Pharma price gouging as House Ways and Means advances H.R. 3.
Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. ?Win In The House?
- The House Ways and Means committee advanced the comprehensive provisions of H.R. 3 for inclusion in the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package this week. The committee’s favorable report ensures Medicare negotiation will be incorporated into the reconciliation package that moves to the House floor in coming weeks. “We applaud Chairman Richard Neal and Democratic members on the committee for standing up to Big Pharma and fighting for H.R. 3,” P4ADNow’s David Mitchell said. “Now the House and Senate must move forward with reconciliation to fulfill their promise to pass strong Medicare negotiation to lower drug prices on behalf of Americans.” — (Axios, Los Angeles Times)
2. Flip-Floppers
- Right before the Ways and Means Committee advanced H.R. 3, three Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee — Reps. Peters, Rice, and Schrader — sided with Big Pharma and failed to support the drug pricing provisions. Their opposition is a speed bump on the way to reconciliation, but patients are holding them accountable with new ads that target Reps. Peters and Rice, who have an opportunity to vote in favor of the reconciliation package on the floor and advance the Medicare negotiation legislation. “It makes me so angry that members of Congress are choosing Big Pharma over patients,” says multiple sclerosis patient Therese Ball in the new ads. “It’s unforgivable.” — (Common Dreams)
3. Ads On Ads
- P4ADNow also launched another TV adthis week as part of its campaign to ensure patient voices are heard in the midst of multiple million-dollar Big Pharma campaigns full of lies and scare tactics. The new ad features Lynn Scarfuto, a retired nurse and cancer patient who faces a $15,000 price tag for her cancer medication, Imbruvica. “What happens to millions of Americans like me who can’t afford the drugs we so desperately need?” Lynn asks, “Congress, the opportunity to act is now.” Check out all our recent ads here. — (P4ADNow)
4. Sea To Shining Sea
- New data collected by Data for Progress on behalf of P4ADNow and Protect Our Care shows overwhelming, bipartisan support for Medicare negotiation in every state and congressional district. The project surveyed 4,222 likely voters and found that 86% back reforms that give Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices; 81% believe prescription drug costs are “unreasonable”; and only 12% believe pharma’s argument that letting Medicare negotiate lower prices will harm innovation. The survey was modeled onto every congressional district in the country and all 50 states. It’s time to pass drug pricing reform. — (P4ADNow)
5. Voices Build For Lower Drug Prices
- Elected officials and editorial boards are making their voices heard in support of allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. State and local officials in West Virginia say, “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to finally bring down drug prices for American families.” State Senator Troy Singleton agrees that, “Giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices for all Americans can save patients more than $150 billion and create $500 billion in savings for the federal government.” The New Jersey Star-Ledger warns the public not to be fooled by “dark money groups running a scaremongering ad campaign,” and explains that “lower drug prices also means lower insurance premiums and copays for patients who desperately need them.” The answer is clear: Let Medicare negotiate. — (WTRF, New Jersey Star-Ledger, New Jersey Star-Ledger)