Two things that aren’t fair: football games being determined by coin tosses and Americans paying four times more than other countries for prescription drugs.
Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. Our Top Priority
A new survey reveals that small business owners consider addressing high prescription drug prices a top priority for the reconciliation package. A separate poll shows that Americans believe allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices is the top reason to pass the president’s economic plan. Americans are feeling the pinch of rising costs across the board, and lowering drug prices will mitigate the effects of inflation. Patients, taxpayers, and employers know: Drug pricing reform is common sense. — (Small Business for America’s Future, Navigator Research)
Advocacygroups and a medical society continued to push Congress to pass drug pricing reforms to help patients across the country. “Senator Manchin said he is with us in this fight, and West Virginia families are counting on him to deliver,” the voiceover in Protect Our Care’s ad in West Virginia says. The president of the American Academy of Neurology writes, “The time is upon us to lower prescription drug prices. It is essential that Congress act to ensure that Americans have access to critical therapies.” — (Public News Service, Center for American Progress, Protect Our Care, MedPage Today)
One more thing: From Washington to Virginia, lawmakers have introduced legislation to create prescription drug affordability boards to tackle high prices at the state level.
Here’s hoping Congress lowers drug prices before Hilary Duff finishes telling us how she met our father.
Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. Congress: Patients Are Counting On You
Patients shared their stories through video, social media, and letters to the editor this week to demand that Congress deliver on promises to address high drug prices by passing reforms in the reconciliation package. “We’ve never been closer. Don’t let this moment slip away,” says Jacquie Persson, a Crohn’s disease patient from Iowa, in a video with 10 other patient advocates. “I live paycheck to paycheck and in constant fear of losing my medications,” shares West Virginia patient Ashley Suder, who lives with lupus, in a Twitter takeover. Travis Paulson, a Minnesota patient who lives with type 1 diabetes, and Jay Gironimi, a Connecticut patient who lives with cystic fibrosis, described their experiences with high drug prices in letters to their local publications. “Patients like myself shouldn’t be forced to decide between financial ruin and detrimental health outcomes,” Jay writes. “Congress has a chance to alleviate this fear for countless Americans by passing the drug pricing legislation included in the reconciliation package — we are counting on them to succeed.” — (P4ADNow, Morrison County Record, Connecticut Post)
2. Rising Prices, Disproportionate Impact
Two new studies this week highlight a trend of rising prescription drug prices and how they exacerbate health disparities. An analysis from the Congressional Budget Office found that the average net price of brand-name drugs in Medicare Part D more than doubled between 2009 and 2018, with annual price increases often surpassing the rate of inflation. High drug prices disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, as Black and Latino seniors, Medicare beneficiaries with chronic health conditions, women, and people with lower incomes are more likely to report difficulties affording their medications, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services. As we work towards achieving health equity, we must protect patients from predatory drug pricing. — (Congressional Budget Office, Department of Health and Human Services)
3. The Numbers Are In
As lawmakers worked to include drug pricing reforms in the reconciliation package in 2021, the drug industry spent record amounts on lobbying, with PhRMA spending over $29 million and BIO spending over $13 million. In addition to its lobbying activities, pharma spent over $1.6 billion on TV ads for just 10 drugs last year. Drug companies claim that any reduction in revenue would force them to cut back on research and development and stifle innovation of new drugs. Clearly, that’s just not true. — (Bloomberg Government, FiercePharma)
“No More Excuses. Let Medicare Negotiate. Now.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now released a new video featuring patients from across the country demanding that Congress follow through on promises to lower drug prices by passing the reforms in the Build Back Better Act. The two-minute video, titled “Patient Voices From Across America: A Message To Congress,” features 11 patient advocates who explain the personal impact of high drug prices and why Congress must move forward with the drug pricing reforms that will deliver relief to patients like them.
“Now Congress is finally poised to let Medicare negotiate,” Kris, a patient from Denver who lives with four bleeding disorders, including hemophilia, says in the video. “It’s the most popular feature of the Build Back Better Act. More than 80 percent of Americans support it,” Marcus, from Cincinnati, who lives with type 1 diabetes, continues. Therese, from Ogden Dunes, Indiana, who lives with multiple sclerosis, adds, “We need Congress to finally stand up to the big drug companies and get it done.” Jacquie, from Waterloo, Iowa, who lives with Crohn’s disease, concludes, “We’ve never been closer. Don’t let this moment slip away.”
The drug price provisions currently under consideration by the Senate 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 on insulin copays for millions of patients; and limit annual drug price increases to stop price gouging by drug corporations.
The final image of the video reads, “Stop Price Gouging. Lower Out-Of-Pocket. Let Medicare Negotiate. Now.”
P4ADNow started off the year by releasing two ads, one in Washington, D.C., and one in West Virginia, calling on members of Congress to pass a reconciliation package including the already negotiated drug pricing reforms from the Build Back Better Act. P4ADNow also sent a joint letter with AARP emphasizing that the Senate must pass the landmark drug pricing reforms. A new report from P4AD takes a closer look at the drug industry’s price hikes and its impact on patients, underscoring the urgent need for Congress to act.
Read the video transcript below and watch the full video here. Patients are available to speak with press upon request.
TRANSCRIPT:
Eighteen years ago, pharma won a sweetheart deal that prohibits Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices. – Jacquie Persson
As a result, we’re paying almost four times what other nations pay for the same brand-name drugs. – Kami Guiden
I’ve had to ration my drugs and go without because the price is so high. No American should have to do that. – Iesha Meza
Now Congress is finally poised to let Medicare negotiate, but the only way to pass it is with 50 votes through reconciliation. – Kris Garcia
We’re so close. – Clayton McCook
It’s the most popular feature of the Build Back Better Act. More than 80 percent of Americans support it. – Marcus LaCour
Any reconciliation deal must include it. – Kris Garcia
Lily will need insulin for the rest of her life. We need the reforms in Build Back Better to cap insulin copays for millions of people with diabetes. – Clayton McCook
I’m on Medicare, and capping out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 will help me and millions of other patients. – Maureen Iten
Pharma jacks up prices every year. Limiting price increases to the rate of inflation would really help me. – Meg Jackson-Drage
Congress has talked and talked. Now’s the time to get it done. – Lauren Stanford
The votes are there. It can happen. The only thing in the way is opposition from Big Pharma. – Sheldon Armus
We need Congress to finally stand up to the big drug companies and get it done. – Therese Ball
Drug price reform must be included in any reconciliation package. – Iesha Meza
No more excuses. – Maureen Iten
No more political games. – Clayton McCook
Stop price gouging, lower out-of-pocket, and let Medicare negotiate. – Kami Guiden
We’ve never been closer. Don’t let this moment slip away. – Jacquie Persson
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The next time Wordle needs a five-letter word for price gougers, we’re guessing P-H-R-M-A.
Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. Big Pharma’s New Year Tradition
A new report from P4AD takes a closer look at the drug industry’s price hikes on 554 medications so far this month, highlights the impact on patients, and calls on Congress to curb rising prices by passing the drug pricing reforms in the Build Back Better Act. The report also spotlights Pfizer, which raised prices on 125 prescription drugs — more than any other company — even after a record-breaking year of sales from its COVID-19 vaccine. “I’ve had to spend my entire paycheck on drug costs,” said patient advocate Ashley Suder, who lives with lupus and takes Pfizer’s Eliquis. “With the price increasing again, I worry about how I’ll make ends meet while still affording my drugs.” — (FiercePharma)
2. Keeping Up The Drumbeat
Last week, P4ADNow released two ads calling on members of Congress to pass a reconciliation package including the already negotiated drug pricing reforms from the Build Back Better Act. The video ad running in Washington, D.C., features three patient advocates who take expensive prescription drugs, and the radio ad running in West Virginia highlights Senator Manchin’s opportunity to deliver on his support for Medicare negotiation. P4ADNow also sent a joint letter with AARP emphasizing that the Senate must take advantage of the moment at hand to pass landmark drug pricing reforms and help alleviate costs for families across the country. — (P4ADNow, P4ADNow, P4ADNow)
3. We’re All Paying The Price
Patients, health advocates, and small business owners wrote to their local publications this week urging Congress to pass a reconciliation bill including drug pricing provisions. “Since [my patient assistance] grants dried up, I have been living with untreated MS. … My ‘golden years’ of retirement haven’t been what I envisioned at all,” writes Delaware patient Janet Schwartz. “When drug corporations don’t negotiate, we all pay,” explains Las Vegas business owner Peter Frigeri. “Lowering drug prices through Medicare negotiations … saves everyone money and makes the system more fair.” — (Bay to Bay News, Charleston Gazette-Mail, Las Vegas Sun)
Drug pricing was trending in 2021. Here’s a look back at patient advocacy wins and progress toward victories in the year to come.
Welcome to the Year in Review.
1. One-On-Ones With The White House
As the Biden administration worked with lawmakers to craft the reconciliation package, patients across the country brought their stories to the highest office in the land. They offered the president their support as he pushes to deliver on his commitment to lower drug prices. Patient advocates Gail deVore, Iesha Meza, and Sa’Ra Skipper, who all live with type 1 diabetes, metwithPresidentBiden at the White House to share their experiences with high insulin prices and discuss the urgent need to include drug pricing reforms in the legislation. Iesha also introduced the president ahead of his December remarks on how the Build Back Better Act will lower drug prices, and Gailfollowed up with Vice President Harris to talk about getting the bill across the finish line.
2. Fighting Pharma’s Falsehoods
The pharmaceutical industry and its front groups worked overtime in 2021 to spread misleading claims that drug pricing reforms will hurt patients, but the facts aren’t on their side. In response, P4AD released an innovation report and a video debunking pharma’s falsehoods that reforms would hinder innovation and explaining how we can have the innovation we need at prices we can afford. To refute unsubstantiated claims that drug price reforms will lead to reduced access to prescription drugs, P4ADNow launched a video and David Mitchell penned an op-ed emphasizing how lower drug prices will increase patient access to medications they need. Pricehikereports show that pharma raises prices at will, resulting in outrageous costs for patients, enormous profits for drug companies, and huge paydays for their executives. To highlight Big Pharma’s web of influence, P4AD released a report detailing how the financial and organizational relationships between drug companies and major patient groups constrain these groups from advocating for meaningful legislation to lower drug prices. Over and over again, independent factcheckers rated pharma and its allies’ claims as false. The truth is that patientsneedMedicarenegotiation now for real relief from high prices, and we must not fall for pharma’s fear-mongering.
3. Congressional Priority: Drug Pricing
This year, Congress is closer than it has been in nearly two decades to addressing high drug prices. Lawmakers wrapped up an investigation into pharmaceutical pricing practices and the House passed the Build Back Better Act including a hardfought compromise on drug pricing reforms. Patientsshared their stories at all of the congressional hearings held on drug pricing and utilized an advocacy hub launched by P4ADNow to voice how they have been harmed by high prescription drug prices. P4AD founder David Mitchell spokeathearings and press conferences about the urgent need for reforms. P4ADNow and influential organizations representing seniors, union workers, and patients ran ad campaigns urging Congress to seize the opportunity to help Americans by lowering drug prices. These groups, along with frontline Democrats, also sentletters to congressionalleadership and pennedop-eds pushing Congress and the White House to include drug pricing reform in the reconciliation package.
In the second year of the pandemic, drug companies pointed to the development of the COVID-19 vaccines as a reason why prices must be kept high — failing to tell the full story involving billions of dollars in government investment in vaccine research and development. P4AD’s David Mitchell penned a New York Times op-ed, Wall Street Journal letter, and blog post that lays out how the government and taxpayersunderwrote the risk while drug companies now stand to shatter sales records and collect billions of dollars from the vaccines. “To all those drug corporations and executives making billions from those of us paying the bills,” Mitchell writes, “You’re welcome.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Senate convenes for the new year, AARP and Patients For Affordable Drugs Now sent a letter demanding senators deliver the landmark prescription drug pricing reforms already negotiated with both houses of Congress.
“As negotiations around the reconciliation package continue, we want to again emphasize the historic opportunity to enact crucial provisions to lower prescription drug prices and out-of-pocket costs for millions of older Americans and their families,” Nancy A. LeaMond, Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer at AARP, and David Mitchell, cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, say in the letter. “As adjustments to the package are considered in the coming weeks, the promise of lower prescription drug prices remains a cornerstone priority for voters of all ages, and the Senate must seize the opportunity to enact the previously negotiated provisions on drug pricing.”
The drug pricing legislation 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.
“For any lawmaker concerned about inflation, lowering drug prices should be the first item on the agenda,” the letter continues, acknowledging that inflation is a kitchen table concern right now and impacting the wallets of every American family. “Let us be clear: now is the time. Patients and seniors cannot wait any longer and are demanding immediate action.”
TV Ad Features Three Patient Advocates: “Americans Can’t Wait Any Longer”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now launched a new video ad today calling on Congress to include the previously negotiated reforms that lower drug prices in any final reconciliation package. The 30-second video ad is running in Washington, D.C., and features three patient advocates: Therese Ball of Indiana, Kris Garcia of Colorado, and Iesha Meza of Arizona. In addition, the campaign includes digital static ads in D.C. as well as grassroots advocacy in key states, where patients call their senators and ask for their support on the current drug price provisions.
The video ad opens with Therese, who lives with multiple sclerosis. “The medications I need to live are priced at over $7,000 every month,” she says. “Millions of Americans can’t afford the medicines they need to survive,” continues Iesha, who lives with type 1 diabetes and depends on insulin. Kris, who lives with multiple bleeding disorders, including hemophilia, adds, “Congress needs to let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices for us.”
“The landmark drug price provisions negotiated painstakingly over several months and included in the Build Back Better plan remain the top priority for Americans and are overwhelmingly supported by more than 80 percent of voters – Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike,” 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. “This legislation will save lives, lower prices, and fight inflation by holding the line on premiums and health care costs for patients, employers, employees, and taxpayers. Failure is not an option – we need Congress to pass these historic reforms in any reconciliation package that is finally agreed to.”
The ads launch as the Senate reconvenes to continue negotiations around the reconciliation package. The drug price provisions under consideration 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.
“Any reconciliation package must include reforms that lower drug prices,” the video ad concludes. “Americans can’t wait any longer.”
Watch the full ad here and view the digital ads below.
P4ADNow also launched a new radio ad today in West Virginia calling on Senator Manchin to support the reconciliation package to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. All recent P4ADNow ads can be found here.
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“We Need Senator Manchin’s Support. His Vote Will Make The Difference For West Virginians. Please, Senator Manchin, Don’t Let This Moment Slip Away”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now launched a new radio ad today as part of its ongoing campaign in West Virginia. The ad highlights Senator Joe Manchin’s opportunity to deliver on his strong support for Medicare negotiation to lower drug prices for West Virginians by swiftly passing a reconciliation package that includes strong drug price reforms. The campaign includes a new 60-second radio ad and grassroots advocacy, in which patients call the senator directly thanking him for supporting Medicare negotiation and asking him to support the reconciliation package, including the current provisions that will lower drug prices for West Virginians.
“Patients have been waiting nearly 20 years for Medicare to be allowed to negotiate lower prices on their behalf. Right now, we are closer than we have ever been to closing a deal that would be historic in lowering drug prices for West Virginians and all Americans,” 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. “Big Pharma is doing everything in its power to block this from happening, and we need Senator Manchin’s support for a reconciliation package that includes provisions allowing Medicare to negotiate. Patients have waited too long; we can’t let this moment slip away.”
The ad launches as the Senate reconvenes and continues negotiations around the reconciliation package. The drug price provisions under consideration 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.
“It makes no sense at all that we don’t go out and negotiate. The VA does a tremendous job. Medicaid does it. Why doesn’t Medicare?” Senator Manchin says in the radio ad. The voiceover adds, “We’ve never been so close. The plan in Congress could pass right now. But we need Senator Manchin’s support. His vote will make the difference for West Virginians. Please, Senator Manchin, don’t let this moment slip away.”
P4ADNow also released a new TV ad today in Washington, D.C., demanding that Congress include the previously negotiated reforms that lower drug prices in any final reconciliation package. All of P4ADNow’s recent ads can be viewed here.
