It shouldn’t be just another day in drug pricing. But it is. — (Reuters)
New year, new you, same prescription drug price hikes.
1. Business as Usual
Pharma rang in 2020 by unleashing hundreds of drug price hikes. Congressional action is sorely needed, for patients like Genevieve and all of us. — (Reuters)
2. The Smirk
A look back at the big flashpoints in the decade drug pricing rose to the top of the nation’s conscience. Voter anger is set to explode in 2020. — (NPR)
3. 2019
We’d be remiss not to reflect back on the progress made on drug pricing in 2019. Momentum continues to build. — (P4ADNow)
4. Encouraging
In California, the court has denied pharma’s attempt to block the implementation of AB 824, a law to deter collusive agreements that slow affordable prescription drugs from reaching the market. — (AG Xavier Becerra via Twitter)
5. Idea:
If we stop shoveling profits into Big Pharma executive pay packages, stock buybacks, and dividends, these companies would start behaving themselves, create actual innovative drugs, and stop robbing the public. — (NBC)
Goodbye, 2019. Hello, 2020! Here is a look at the year in review in prescription drug pricing:
1. States Take a Stand
In 2019, states passed a record number of laws to rein in high drug prices. California lawmakers passed a groundbreaking bill that would deter Big Pharma from cutting abusive “pay-for-delay” deals. Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to grant its Medicaid program the power to negotiate lower drug prices and to hold companies that refuse to come to the table accountable. Maryland made history by establishing a drug affordability board. And in Maine, bipartisan efforts resulted in a comprehensive slate of prescription drug pricing laws including importation, a prescription drug affordability board, and transparency measures.
2. Federal Momentum Grows
The CREATESAct cleared Congress as part of a year-end spending agreement. The bill is expected to save the government $4 billion over 10 years by closing a loophole that had prevented generics from coming to market. Drugs impacted include Revlimid, which costs Part D beneficiaries as much as $2,600 for the first month’s supply. While taken by only 37,500 Americans on Medicare Part D, the drug carried the highest total spending for any drug in the program in 2017. Overdue? Yes. The least Congress could do? Yes. But we’ll take it.
3. Patient Voices Grow Louder
Patients across America are continuing to speak out against ever-increasing prescription drug prices. They’ve testified in statehouses and in Washington, DC and met with legislators in dozens of in-person meetings. And they’ve shared more than 20,000 of their stories with Patients For Affordable Drugs that detail the heartbreaking choices they’re forced to make to afford prescriptions, from skipping doses, to cutting pills in half, to forgoing food. The stories of our brave patient advocates can be found here.
4. Pharma Loses Its Edge
Pharma is losing its edge in Washington. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) passed the House before year’s end. Stripped from the deal were enhanced biologic patent exclusivity periods in Mexico and Canada that would have blocked competition and kept prices high. The deal is evidence that progress on drug pricing in gridlocked Washington and in the face of the deep-pocketed drug lobby is possible.
5. It’s Not Perfect, But It’s Progress
We know the road ahead is long, but let’s not forget how far we’ve come. House passage of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, marked a major victory in the fight for lower drug prices. The landmark legislation would expand Medicare benefits, support innovation, and save America billions of dollars from lower drug prices. The bipartisan Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019cleared the Senate Finance Committee and would cap how much drugmakers could hike prices on medications in Medicare, for the first time, ever. Congress will have another opportunity to work together as it sets about this spring to fund popular health extenders.
WASHINGTON, DC — In response to the Trump Administration’s announcement of a proposed rule that would allow the importation of certain prescription drugs, David Mitchell, a cancer patient and the founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, issued the following statement:
“We are glad the administration has cracked the door open to safe importation of drugs from Canada and other countries. But it’s not a solution that will lower drug prices for the overwhelming majority of Americans.
“We hope the administration will work with Congress to pass a comprehensive drug pricing reform package and finalize its international pricing index model, actions that would begin to address the fact that Americans pay two to three times more than citizens in other nations for the same drugs.”
BACKGROUND
According to Canada’s acting ambassador to the United States, Canada represents 2 percent of global pharmaceutical consumption compared with the United States’ 44 percent. This raises questions about Canada’s ability to meet the demands of supplying drugs to the U.S. market.
The administration’s notice of proposed rulemaking outlines two pathways for importation. The first pathway will guide importation efforts by states like Florida and Maine that passed importation laws during 2019 legislative sessions. The second pathway allows manufacturers to import foreign-made drugs under new drug codes — essentially releasing them from contractual obligations with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Since manufacturers perpetually blame PBM contracts for high list prices, this second pathway provides pharma with an opportunity to put their money where their mouth is.
Patients will not be allowed to import expensive biologic drugs such as insulin and Humira under the first pathway.
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H.R. 3 under every Christmas tree!
1. A Win for All Americans
The House passed landmark Medicare negotiation legislation that would lower drug prices for Americans. Now let’s make a deal in the Senate. — (The New York Times)
2. How Stuff Works: Lowering Drug Prices
H.R. 3 passed in the House, but how would it work? Read: — (NPR)
3.100k a Year for Life
New sickle cell treatments are welcome, but we must consider taxpayer investment and push for fairer pricing for everyone! — (The New York Times)
4. Deep Pockets, Shallow Impact
Pharma’s ad bonanza to stop bills that would lower drug pricing failed. Americans want to let Medicare negotiate, and nothing will change that. — (STAT)
5. First Come Reforms, Then Come the Lawsuits
Big Pharma is trying to stop good transparency legislation in Oregon. — (Jefferson Public Radio)
WASHINGTON, DC — In response to House passage of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, David Mitchell, a cancer patient and the founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, issued the following statement:
“Patients scored a major victory in the fight for lower drug prices today. We applaud the House of Representatives for passing this landmark legislation that will expand Medicare benefits, support innovation, and save America billions of dollars from lower drug prices.
“The House has done its job. Now the Senate must act.”
BACKGROUND
H.R. 3 would:
Let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices and extend lower prices to all Americans with public or private sector insurance.
Save $456 billion from drug price negotiations and reinvest $358 billion back into Medicare to add new dental, hearing, and vision benefits for seniors on Medicare.
Cap out-of-pocket spending at $2,000 for Medicare beneficiaries. Currently, seniors can pay more than $15,000 a year for a single prescription drug.
Stop drug company price gouging by requiring corporations to pay a rebate if drug prices increase faster than the rate of inflation.
Support innovation and new drug development by investing savings from Medicare negotiations into the world-class research being done at the NIH, and which can be targeted to unmet need and public health priorities.
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WASHINGTON, DC—In response to the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) score on H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, David Mitchell, a cancer patient and the founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, issued the following statement:
“H.R. 3 will help fix our broken system and ensure Americans with private and public insurance get the drugs they need at lower prices.
“CBO confirmed the bill will put $456 billion in savings from lower drug prices to work for taxpayers. America’s seniors will benefit from new dental, hearing, and vision coverage, investments in innovative new drugs, and lower out-of-pocket costs.
“H.R. 3’s investment into the world-class research at the National Institutes of Health will more than offset the prediction of about two new drugs lost per year. As a patient whose life is completely dependent on new drugs, I’m confident innovation is protected under this landmark legislation.
“It’s time to pass H.R. 3.”
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WASHINGTON, DC — In less than 24 hours, more than 1,600 patients from every state signed a petition supporting H.R. 3, landmark legislation to let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices. Patients For Affordable Drugs Now launched the petition this week as the House announced a vote on The Lower Drug Costs Now Act. The petition comes on the heels of television, radio, and digital advertisements in recent months that illustrate the impact of high prescription drug prices on everyday Americans. In addition, patient advocates from across the country have flown toWashington to meet their members of Congress and thousands more have written letters in support of policies to lower drug prices.
“Americans are being being ripped off, and we know Medicare negotiation is a common sense solution to drive down drug prices,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and the founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Everyone, everywhere is tired of paying two to three times what other developed nations pay for the exact same prescription drugs. It’s time for the leaders in Washington to put aside differences and give the American public a win to lower drug prices.”
H.R. 3 would:
Let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices and extend lower prices to all Americans with public or private sector insurance.
Cap out-of-pocket spending at $2,000 for Medicare beneficiaries. Currently, seniors can pay more than $15,000 a year for a single prescription drug.
Stop drug company price gouging by requiring corporations to pay Medicare if drug prices increase faster than the rate of inflation.
Add hearing, dental, and vision coverage for Medicare beneficiaries.
Support innovation and new drug development by investing savings from Medicare negotiations into the world-class research being done at the NIH.
Currently, nearly 1 in 3 Americans report not taking their medicines as prescribed because of the cost. Lower drug prices will mean better adherence to drugs, which will improve health outcomes and extend life expectancy for millions of Americans. That’s likely why nine of 10 Americans from both political parties agree one of Congress’ top priorities should be to lower drug prices.
