Our #1 overall pick to lower drug prices? Medicare negotiation.
Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. The Push For Lower Rx Prices
- On Tuesday, over 70 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, unions, employers, physicians, nurses, and disease advocacy groups joined Senators Amy Klobuchar and Catherine Cortez Masto to launch the “Push For Lower Rx Prices.” The campaign calls on the Senate to advance a reconciliation package with the House-passed drug pricing provisions by Memorial Day to deliver relief to patients across the country. “After graduating, I want to go to law school. But my dreams and independence are threatened by having to constantly worry about affording my treatment,” said Jacqueline Garibay, an ankylosing spondylitis patient from Texas who spoke at the event. “I want the Senate to understand that passing comprehensive drug pricing reform will give me and millions of others peace of mind and the ability to pursue our dreams without worrying about whether the price of our drugs will stand in the way.” — (Common Dreams)
2. Voters Demand Medicare Negotiation
- A new survey conducted by a bipartisan research team demonstrates overwhelming and unwavering support among voters for Congress to take action to lower the prices of prescription drugs. The poll finds that 83 percent of voters back Medicare negotiation and 77 percent are in favor of limiting annual drug price increases, with support across political parties. Nearly 80 percent of respondents say the pharmaceutical industry can live with slightly lower profits and still provide the innovation patients need. In a country deeply divided, Americans are unified on the issue of drug prices. Congress must pass this game-changing legislation now. — (STAT)
3. Read Our Stories
- The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, the Main Street Alliance, and P4ADNow released a storybook this week of patients sharing how high drug prices have harmed their families’ health and financial well-being. P4ADNow advocates Brenda Dickason, Marcus LaCour, and Ashley Suder are among the patients featured in the storybook. “I shouldn’t have to spend my retirement praying that my small business sales go well so that I can finally purchase the EpiPen that could save my life,” shares Brenda, who lives with asthma and allergies. “I’m thankful I have insulin to help keep me alive, but it is worthless if we cannot afford it,” explains Marcus, a type 1 diabetes patient. “It’s wrong that I live paycheck to paycheck and in constant fear of losing my medications while Big Pharma rakes in profits,” says Ashley, who lives with lupus. — (Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy)
Have a great weekend, everyone!