Critical Bipartisan Measures Cut Would Have Lowered Drug Prices For Americans And Saved Taxpayers Billions
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now expresses deep disappointment and frustration over the failure to include key drug pricing reforms in the end-of-year continuing resolution (CR) despite strong bipartisan support. These vital reforms became collateral damage when they were cut from the proposed package that was released earlier in the week, as political maneuvering and powerful outside interests took priority over patient needs.
In the past two days, patients have sent over 1,000 letters urging House Republicans to uphold their commitment to the American people and prioritize the drug pricing reforms in the original CR package.
“These critical reforms had strong bipartisan support, saved taxpayers billions of dollars, and would have delivered real relief for patients,” said Merith Basey, Executive Director of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Leaving these bills out of the end-of-year package means that Americans will continue to pay the highest drug prices in the world. Regrettably, politics and powerful outside interests took precedence over the needs of patients.
“But this setback will not deter us. P4ADNow will continue to mobilize patients, hold lawmakers accountable, and fight for system-changing reforms that will lower drug prices for all. Lawmakers have a chance to make this right during the next Congress and the incoming Trump Administration by passing these bills into law. Nine out of 10 Americans demand it.”
The reforms cut from the CR include:
- S.150, the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act: which limits the number of patents pharmaceutical companies can assert on biologics, clearing the path for earlier entry of lower-cost biosimilars into the market. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates this reform could save taxpayers $1.8 billion over 10 years.
- Q1/Q2, a provision of the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act: addresses a critical barrier to generic drug approvals by requiring the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide clearer guidance on ingredient differences, saving generic manufacturers time and money in bringing affordable alternatives to market. The CBO estimates this reform would save taxpayers $871 million over 10 years.
- S.2973, the Modernizing and Ensuring PBM Accountability Act: would delink pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) revenue from drug prices in Medicare Part D, curbing incentives that lead PBMs to steer patients toward more expensive prescription drugs, and would require PBMs to report on drug pricing and other information to Part D plan sponsors.
“This decision feels like a betrayal to millions of patients who spoke out, hoping to rein in an industry that has always put profits first,” said Jacquie Persson, a patient advocate from Cedar Falls, Iowa who struggles to afford the medication for her Crohn’s disease. “It’s disheartening to see industry interests prioritized over the well-being of people once again. We won’t stop fighting until Big Pharma is held accountable and patients can access the affordable, life-saving medications they need and deserve.”
The exclusion of these measures means the next opportunity to pass them will be during the next Congress – a timeline that delays relief for millions of people with high drug costs. Despite this setback, P4ADNow is committed to its mission to lower drug prices for patients and continuing its advocacy:
Partnering with allies to hold lawmakers accountable and keep drug pricing reform at the forefront of legislative priorities.
Mobilizing patient advocates to demand the passage of these reforms during the next Congress.
Building on the momentum of 42,000 letters and 31,000 calls to Congress, urging bipartisan action on these bills.
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Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, is the only national, patient advocacy organization focused exclusively on policies to lower drug prices. We empower and mobilize patients and allies, hold accountable those in power, and fight to shape and achieve system-changing policies that make prescription drugs affordable for all people in the United States. P4ADNow is bipartisan and does not accept funding from organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs. To learn more visit; PatientsForAffordableDrugsNOW.org.