WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House passed a reconciliation bill that includes a nearly $5 billion giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry: the ORPHAN Cures Act. Despite outrage from tens of thousands of patients on Medicare to halt its progress, ORPHAN Cures was included in the reconciliation bill, was passed by both chambers this week, and now heads to the President’s desk. Its inclusion defies the will of American patients and, if implemented, will diminish the savings due to be generated for patients via the historic and wildly popular Medicare negotiation program.

“When nine in ten Americans want Congress to go further to lower prescription drug prices, there is no good reason to hand Big Pharma a new loophole to exploit — and stick taxpayers with a $5 billion bill,” said Merith Basey, Executive Director of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “This unnecessary carveout keeps prices high on drugs that should be negotiated, weakening Medicare negotiation before it even begins to deliver savings. It sends a clear message to the 1 in 3 Americans struggling to afford their prescriptions: a majority of Congress chose Big Pharma over patients. Patients across all 50 States fought too hard for the historic progress we’ve made to watch this legislation undermine it at the last moment. We will keep fighting the implementation of ORPHAN Cures and any bills like it that would weaken Medicare negotiation, a program supported by 86% of Americans across party lines.”

The ORPHAN Cures Act creates a new loophole allowing some of the most profitable drugs with multiple orphan indications to avoid Medicare price negotiation, even as these drugs generate massive sales. The CBO estimates this carveout would cost taxpayers nearly $5 billion over the next decade while weakening the Medicare Negotiation Program just as it’s set to deliver savings to 9 million seniors starting in January.

P4ADNow patient advocates have sent 19,545 letters to Congress, met with Members of Congress, spoken out publicly, and talked to the media demanding lawmakers reject the ORPHAN Cures Act. While this bill now heads to the President’s desk, Patients For Affordable Drugs Now will continue to fight its implementation, protect the Medicare negotiation program, and work to secure lower prices for patients who need relief now more than ever.

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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.