WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now launched a new ad today in Arizona as part of its campaign urging Senator Kyrsten Sinema to vote for the Build Back Better Act to lower prescription drug prices. The 30-second video ad features two Arizona patients, Phoenix advocate Iesha Meza and Tucson advocate Brenda Dickason. In addition, the campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy, in which patients write and call the senator and ask her to vote in favor of the Build Back Better Act and ensure the current drug price provisions remain strong. 

The ad opens with Iesha, who depends on insulin to manage her type 1 diabetes. “Millions of Americans can’t afford the medicines they need to survive,” Iesha says. “I had to ration my insulin, and it almost killed me.” Brenda, a small business owner and former police detective and teacher who lives with asthma and severe allergies, then says, “I devoted my life to serving my community as a police detective and teacher. I had to start a small business, and I still can’t afford all of my prescriptions.” 

“During negotiations earlier this year, Senator Sinema agreed to the drug price provisions in the Build Back Better Act, and Americans are counting on her to follow through,” said David Mitchell, a patient with incurable blood cancer whose drugs carry a list price of more than $900,000 per year and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “9 out of 10 Arizona voters support allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices — the Build Back Better Act is Senator Sinema’s chance to deliver on her commitment and provide relief to seniors and patients who have been waiting for these reforms.”

The ad launches following the release of drug price provisions from Senate committees on Saturday and the passage of the Build Back Better Act out of the House of Representatives last month. The Build Back Better Act includes legislation that will, for the first time, authorize Medicare to negotiate prices directly for some of the most expensive prescription medicines, including insulin; institute a hard cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries; and limit annual price increases to stop price gouging by drug corporations. 

“There’s a plan in Congress to let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices – Senator Sinema says she supports it,” the new ad concludes. “To get it done, she needs to vote for the Build Back Better Act now. Arizonans can’t afford to wait any longer.” 

Watch the full ad here. 

All recent P4ADNow ads can be found here. 
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