The Week in Review in Prescription Drug Pricing
Biggest upset in August? Serena beating the no. 2 seed or patients overcoming Big Pharma’s $205 million in lobbying spending? Game, set, match.
Welcome To The Week In Review.
- Still Smiling About Drug Price Reforms
- It’s been more than two weeks since President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, and countrywide advocates, patients, and business administrators are still talking about how the monumental drug price provisions will help Americans. “Health care lies at the heart of the Inflation Reduction Act,” Meghan Roh, program director for Opportunity Wisconsin, explained. “And the provisions to reduce costs and expand care are overwhelmingly popular with Wisconsinites across the political spectrum.” In Arizona, many of the over 1 million seniors enrolled in Medicare will benefit from the drug price provisions. Sue Lee in Kentucky is a plaque psoriasis patient on Medicare who will face lower drug costs thanks to the $2,000 out-of-pocket cap — right now, Humira would cost Sue nearly $10,000 a year out of pocket on Medicare. Millions of others like Sue are feeling hopeful with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. — (AZ Mirror, Wisconsin Examiner, Medscape, San Antonio Express-News)
2. Electeds Echo Importance Of New Drug Price Law
- From the White House to state capitals, elected officials are spreading the word about the impact of the historic drug price provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. Vice President Harris touted the provisions, explaining, “Medicare was required by law to pay whatever price the drug companies set. But not anymore.” Senators Casey, Duckworth, Shaheen, Tester, and Warnock defended the drug provisions and explained how they will help Americans in their states and across the country. U.S. Representatives Craig, Houlahan, Malinowski, Phillips, Slotkin, and Wild followed suit. At a telephone town hall in Pennsylvania, Rep. Wild said the Inflation Reduction Act’s impact on seniors’ drug costs “is the biggest inroad [Congress has made on the issue] ever.” Reps. Craig and Phillips penned an op-ed highlighting how the drug price reforms deliver on their campaign promises. “Right here in Minnesota, more than 27,000 seniors will see their prescription drug costs capped at $2,000 per year, and 47,000 Minnesotans will have insulin copays capped at $35 per month,” they said. “These life-saving reforms will make a real difference in the lives of our constituents.” Oklahoma State Senator Hicks wrote, “This is great news for Oklahoma. Finally, a comprehensive plan that will lower prescription drug prices.” — (P4ADNow, Delco Times, OurQuadCities, Manchester Ink, Great Falls Tribune, Romes News-Tribune, Star Tribune, Patch, Insider NJ, Minnpost, Fox47 News, WLVR, Oklahoman)
3. HELP! We Need UFAs With Drug Reforms
- This week, the Center for Science in the Public Interest led a group of consumer, health professional, food safety, academic, and environmental organizations including P4ADNow in sending a letter to Congressional leadership urging them to pass the FDA user fee package approved by the Senate HELP committee earlier this year. The HELP committee package includes reforms that will bring us closer to restoring integrity to the drug pricing system by bolstering generic competition and driving down drug prices for patients. — (CSPI)
Have a great weekend, everyone!