Biggest upset in August? Serena beating the no. 2 seed or patients overcoming Big Pharma’s $205 million in lobbying spending? Game, set, mat
Welcome To The Week In Review.
Patients Explain: “This Is A Game-changer.”
This week, patients continued to share how the new drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act will improve their lives. P4AD’s David Mitchell spoke at AARP’s tele-town hall and shared that the $2,000 annual cap on Medicare Part D recipients’ out-of-pocket costs will be “transformative for me and millions of other cancer patients over time.” Jackie Trapp in Wisconsin lives with an incurable blood cancer and takes Revlimid, which cost her $21,740 out-of-pocket last year. She shared that the out-of-pocket cap in the Inflation Reduction Act “would be huge in terms of us being able to reinstall that safety net of ours and go back to having a healthy savings account.” Melia Derrick, a director of retirees for Branch 9 of the National Association of Letter Carriers in Minnesota, wrote an op-ed explaining, “Seniors like me with serious conditions like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis will save thousands of dollars on prescriptions.” DonnaMarie Woodson, a colon and breast cancer survivor in North Carolina, shared that the new law, “is going to be so beneficial for seniors across the board, in terms of medications and out of pocket costs.” Rick Buchanan, a patient in Nevada, wrote, “This bill allows Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs — significantly lowering prices — and caps seniors’ out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 per year. For folks like me, this is a game-changer.” — (AARP, USA Today, Duluth News Tribune, The Charlotte Post, Las Vegas Sun)
2. Congress Is Proud Of Drug Price Reforms
Members of Congress including Senators Brown and Warner and Reps. Davids, McGovern, Neguse and Crow, Scanlon, and Thompson continued to share just how historic the Inflation Reduction Act is in providing relief from high drug prices for their constituents. Senator Baldwin said, “Wisconsin families need lower costs and I voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to deliver results.” Rep. Tonko shared, “With the Inflation Reduction Act now the law of the land, Democrats in Congress have taken bold steps to rein in out-of-control health care costs and slash drug prices for millions of Americans.” Rep. Luria remarked, “I am proud to have supported the Inflation Reduction Act, which will cut health care and prescription drug costs for working families and seniors.” Rep. Wexton added, “Now, thanks to legislation I’ve championed in Congress, health care is more affordable and accessible than ever.” Rep. Harder summarized, “We took on big pharma, we won, and now 40,000 people in our community will save thousands on life saving health care and medications because of it.” Thanks to champions in Congress, Americans will get long overdue relief from high drug prices because of your work in passing this monumental law. — (People’s World, NBC 29, KCUR, Greenfield Recorder, Highlands Ranch Herald, Patch, Lake County News, Madison.com, Saratogian, InsuranceNewsNet, Blue Virginia, Rep. Harder)
3. Big Pharma’s profiteering schemes
This week, a new Health Affairs study found that drug companies profit from donating to charities that help Medicare patients pay for costly medicines. Researchers analyzed the drug spending of more than 3 million Medicare Advantage enrollees and examined data on illnesses and drugs covered by charities aimed at providing assistance to these same beneficiaries. According to Axios, the researchers found that “Manufacturers could effectively assist in the purchase of their own medications by contributing to condition-specific charities,” which likely “violate the spirit” of federal Anti-Kickback statutes, as reported by STAT. Sounds like Big Pharma is up to its same old profiteering schemes. While drug companies want us to believe they are donating to patient “charities” to help Medicare patients, Big Pharma is really using these patient “charities” to sell more drugs at ever higher prices at the expense of patients and taxpayers. — (Axios, STAT)
?BONUS: Tradeoffs dives into the Inflation Reduction Act and the next steps for implementing the new drug pricing law, as well as Big Pharma’s efforts in opposition. Give it a listen!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
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 countrywideadvocates, 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!
The Week in Review in Prescription Drug Pricing
Similarities of corn and affordable drug prices? We really love it. I mean look at this thing! It has the juice! It should be affordable. We can tell you all about it!!! ?
Welcome To The Week In Review.
1. Success Sinking In
We’re still buzzing about the millions of patients who will benefit from the drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act that became law last week. Older women, in particular, will feel the relief of the reforms as they typically take more prescription medications than men. The provisions will disproportionately help Black and Latino seniors who are twice as likely to have difficulty affording their medications than white Americans; in particular, the $35 insulin copay cap will be beneficial to these communities as diabetes is more prevalent in Black and Latino adults than in white adults. Big Pharma and its allies are up to the same nonsense, continuing to spew misleading claims about these historic reforms. But patients know better than to believe the lies. Contrary to pharma’s fearmongering, the legislation will save the federal government billions and many seniors thousands of dollars a year. Patients are clear: The Inflation Reduction Act will lower prices of and increase access to vital prescription drugs many seniors depend on. — (Forbes, Washington Informer, New York Times)
2. Top Officials Tout New Drug Price Reforms
Top officials in the Senate, House, and Biden Administration are celebrating the passage of the new drug price provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act and sharing with voters how the provisions will help them. President Biden highlighted the stunning defeat of the powerful pharmaceutical industry: “For decades, Big Pharma won but not this year! The American people won and Big Pharma lost!” Rep. Abigail Spanberger from Virginia emphasized the significance of the drug price reforms saying, “For the people who are most directly impacted, it’s life changing.” Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray and Rep. Kim Schrier touted the legislation, which is expected to reduce prescription drug costs for 1.4 million people in Washington state alone. “To be able to pass the Inflation Reduction Act and actually make real changes that are coming soon and to give people some hope, to me, is just one of the best things we’ve been able to do this year,” Senator Murray shared. On Thursday, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, who will be key to the implementation of the drug price provisions, told stakeholders, “It is truly a historic moment as we drive toward our vision of equitable, affordable healthcare coverage.” In Pennsylvania, Reps. Brendan Boyle and Dwight Evans held an event emphasizing how the Inflation Reduction Act “will make such a difference” to patients in their districts. At a roundtable about lowering prescription drug prices, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra noted that the drug price provisions will, “pass along a lot of savings to many Americans who need it at this particular time.” The work to lower drug prices isn’t over, and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto reaffirmed her commitment to continue to take on Big Pharma at a roundtable she hosted this week in Las Vegas. She said, “To the extent that the pharmaceutical companies try to skirt the law and still try to make a profit off the backs of so many, we’re going to continue to introduce legislation in order to stop that.” We are grateful that top government officials are spreading the word about how the Inflation Reduction Act delivers relief to Americans from high prescription drug prices. — (Your Erie, Post Independent, P4ADNow, Axios, My Northwest, The Reflector, Northeast Times, KCRA, Las Vegas Review-Journal)
3. Opinions: Americans Express Gratitude For Lower Drug Prices
Americans across the country are sharing their stories and gratitude for the positive impact the new drug price provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act will bring to their communities. Vincent DeMarco of Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition and Lynn Heller from the Climate Access Fund celebrated the bill for delivering health benefits that lower drug costs. For many Medicare recipients, including a retired police officer who lives with Parkinson’s disease, the legislation will mean thousands of dollars in savings. Gail deVore of Colorado, a type 1 diabetic, wrote how the Inflation Reduction Act “finally reins in Big Pharma’s greed and drives down drug prices for millions,” and advocated for continuing the fight by lowering the price and cost of insulin for all patients who need it. Gene Faltus, from New Hampshire, is another patient helped by the drug price provisions. He wrote, “between the 25 prescriptions that keep me alive, the $7,000 annual out-of-pocket costs are quickly shrinking my savings…The Inflation Reduction Act will change my life.” Soon Gene, who lives with a variety of conditions including terminal cancer and cardiac conditions, will pay no more than $2,000 out of pocket for the drugs he needs. “So, as I watched Democrats in Congress pass the Inflation Reduction Act, I couldn’t help but feel excitement and relief.” — (Bangor Daily News, Baltimore Sun, Colorado Politics, Union Leader)
One More Thing: Check out this episode from the “This is Type 1” podcast featuring Iesha Meza, who shares her struggle with insulin rationing and her journey to becoming an advocate in fighting for lower prescription drug prices.
It’s official: On Tuesday, President Biden made history by signing into law the Inflation Reduction Act, which will lower prescription drug prices and cap out-of-pocket costs for at least 50 million Americans on Medicare. “President Biden, along with Democrats in the Senate and House, fulfilled their promises to the American people by standing firm in the face of assaults from Big Pharma and passing unprecedented reforms,” sharedP4ADNow founder David Mitchell. “As a result, they have changed the trajectory of drug pricing in the United States.” The President penned an op-ed in Yahoo News before the event, writing, “The big drug companies spent nearly $100 million to beat this law. We prevailed.” He’s right – “this was unquestionably the biggest political loss Pharma has suffered,” Henry J. Kaiser Foundation’s Larry Levitt told HuffPost. P4ADNow’s Lucy Westerfield spoke with Spectrum News about the monumental change. “It’s going to be really enormous relief for patients on Medicare, patients who have high costs on their Medicare plans,” Westerfield said. “But also, it’s going to fundamentally change the way that pharmaceutical manufacturers have control over our pricing nationwide.” (Money.com, P4ADNow, Yahoo News, HuffPost, Spectrum News)
2. Hats Off To Patients For Advancing Popular Rx Policy
Following the President’s signing of the Inflation Reduction Act, P4ADNow founder David Mitchell sent a letter and video to our incredible patient community, thanking them for fighting for these reforms. “I cannot emphasize this enough: The victory would not have been achieved without tireless advocacy from people such as yourself. Your dedication to sharing your real, lived experiences and to write a letter or make a phone call made it possible to reach policymakers in Washington and counter the power of the drug companies; you are the force behind these reforms. Thank you.” It’s no wonder hundreds of thousands of patient advocates rallied around the drug price reforms – they are the most popular component of the Inflation Reduction Act, according to a new Politico-Morning Consult poll. Another poll released this week by Navigator Research reports that 81% of Americans support capping out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs for seniors, 81% of Americans support capping insulin costs for seniors at $35 per month, and 80% of Americans support giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. Americans know what they want, and patient advocates know how to get it done. (P4ADNow, P4ADNow, Politico, Navigator)
3. Drug Price Reforms In Action
Now that the Inflation Reduction Act has been signed into law, experts, news outlets, and advocates are diving into the details of each drug pricing provision and what relief will look like for patients. Articles explained how drug companies will be penalized if their price hikes out-pace inflation, ensuring costs are kept in check for seniors, and how Medicare will finally have the power to negotiate lower drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. The $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on drug costs, which will start in 2025, will help patients like GinnyBoynton in Pennsylvania who is currently taking a drug with a six-figure price tag to treat her Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome. At an event with Senator Casey this week, she shared, “that provision alone will ensure that I can take my Firdapse as intended, and will save me thousands of dollars every year.” And on a podcast, P4ADNow’s Sarah Kaminer Bourland discussed in detail the insulin provisions, which will limit insulin copays to $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries. Experts also highlighted that seniors aren’t the only ones to benefit, as these reforms are expected to affect the commercial market. “Medicare is a leader in health policy and payment models, and what they do really trickles out,” influencing other segments of the market, Sarah Kaminer Bourland explained. (Boston Globe, Center for American Progress, Kaiser Family Foundation, New York Times, WGAL, PennLive, Diabetes Connections, MarketWatch)
One More Thing: Prior to the House vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, P4ADNow founder David Mitchell sat down with Rachel Cohrs of STAT to discuss the work leading up to this monumental moment and his plans for the drug pricing fight ahead. You can check it out here.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following statement was issued by David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, in response to President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law:
“President Biden made history today by signing into law the Inflation Reduction Act that will lower prescription drug prices and out-of-pocket costs for millions of Americans. President Biden, along with Democrats in the Senate and House, fulfilled their promises to the American people by standing firm in the face of assaults from Big Pharma and passing unprecedented reforms. As a result, they have changed the trajectory of drug pricing in the United States. We are grateful for the President’s commitment to the issue and for delivering relief to millions of Americans.
“Patient advocates across the country who shared their personal experiences of the burden of high drug prices made this monumental victory possible. We are humbled and energized by patient advocates’ power to move the will of Congress. Our work to ensure all patients can afford the medications they need will continue.”
Read a letter from David Mitchell to our community of patient advocates here.
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Something remarkable happened this week: You changed the course of history.
Because of you and this community of patients, families, and allies, Congress passed and the President signed into law historic legislation that will lower prescription drug prices for millions of Americans.
For the first time ever:
Medicare will be required to negotiate directly with drug companies for some of the costliest drugs and use its purchasing power to get a better deal for Americans.
We will curb price gouging by imposing a penalty on drug companies that raise their prices in Medicare by more than the rate of inflation.
There will be an annual out-of-pocket cap in the Medicare prescription drug program of $2,000 when there is no cap now, cutting costs enormously for patients who currently can wind up paying more than $15,000 out of pocket every year.
Medicare beneficiaries who rely on insulin will have their insulin copays capped at $35 per month.
Big Pharma — with more than 1,500 lobbyists on Capitol Hill — fought these reforms with all its might, spending at least $56 million on advertising and more than $100 million on lobbying in the past year. It lied about the impact of the legislation, tried to scare patients with dire warnings that new innovative drugs would not be available, and even directly threatened members of Congress. We overcame all of it because of you.
Our community and the American people rose up and said Enough! And finally, after years of effort, we overcame the most powerful lobby in the country. The legislation does not include everything we hoped for, but make no mistake — it changes the trajectory of drug prices and policy in the United States. It finally begins to break the power of multinational drug corporations to dictate prices of brand name drugs to the American people.
I cannot emphasize this enough: The victory would not have been achieved without tireless advocacy from people such as yourself. Your dedication to sharing your real, lived experiences and to write a letter or make a phone call made it possible to reach policymakers in Washington and counter the power of the drug companies; you are the force behind these reforms. Thank you.
We thank the members of the House and Senate and President Biden who stood with patients to achieve this hard fought victory. There is more work to do to lower drug prices for all patients, including many members of this community. Our work is not done, and we will not stop here — we will keep fighting for all patients whose prices are too high.
More importantly please remember, this victory shows we can make progress, we can achieve meaningful change to help millions of Americans. Together we will continue the work to reform our system in order to make it work better for the people it is supposed to serve — rather than the people who profit from it.
Thank you for being a part of this movement.
Best wishes,
David Mitchell
The Week in Review in Prescription Drug Pricing
? ? ? Welcome to the Week in Review.
1. A New Era For Drug Prices
The day we’ve all been waiting for arrived! Yesterday, Congress made history by passing the historic drug price provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that will lower prescription drug prices and out-of-pocket costs for millions of Americans. “With this legislation, we have changed the trajectory of drug pricing policy in the United States,” said P4ADNow founder David Mitchell. “We have finally begun to break the power of multinational drug corporations to dictate prices of brand-name drugs to the American people.” We are so grateful to our patient community for their tireless work, and to Democrats for getting this legislation over the finish line. ? — (P4ADNow)
2. A Payoff for Patients
Patients across the country are heaving a sigh of relief this week as the drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act passed Congress. Over 1.4 million seniors on Medicare will save money with the $2,000 limit on out-of-pocket costs for medications. For MS patient Bob Miller, the out-of-pocket cap will offer “peace of mind” and allow him to go back on Betaseron, a medication to delay the progression of his neurological condition, which he hasn’t taken for 6 years because it costs him more than $10,000 each year. The $35 insulin copay caps for Medicare beneficiaries will be transformative for patients like Bob Parant, a type 1 diabetic from New York, who spoke to NPR about how the new provisionswill dramatically drop his out-of-pocket costs, making a “huge difference” in his life. Since Medicare beneficiaries are often exposed to high out-of-pocket costs that are tied to the list price of drugs, both the Medicare negotiation provision and the policy to curb price hikes will drive downcosts and bring relief. For years, hundreds of thousands of patients have fought for these reforms, and soon they will feel the fruits of their labor. (Time, New York Times,Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, NPR, Washington Post)
3. Senators Celebrate Drug Price Reforms
The three key prescription drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act have more bipartisan support than any of the provisions in the bill with each reform garnering support from over 70 percent of voters. Patients, seniors, and providers know the reforms would be life changing, especially for individuals prescribed the most expensive drugs. Jackie Trapp faces over $10,000 a year in out-of-pocket costs for her cancer and heart medications and told NBC news, “I am likely to leave my husband all alone sooner than I would like, but now I fear of leaving him bankrupt as well.” If Congress follows through on its plan to pass the package by the end of next week, Jackie’s costs would soon be limited to no more than $2,000 each year. AARP Pennsylvania state president wrote, “Big Pharma has been price gouging seniors for too long. This is the Senate’s opportunity to fix the unfair system that’s rigged against Americans.” We couldn’t agree more. — (CBS News, Morning Consult, Deseret News, Missoula Current, NBC News, Union-Sun & Journal, Bradford Era)
4. Pharma: A Sore Loser
The tables have officially turned. For the first time in decades, “the seemingly unstoppable pharma lobbying force has lost its charm,” and it’s notthrilled. Big Pharma continued to spread lies about the drug legislation all the way up to its passage in the House, and experts continued to shut down the industry’s claims. “No, the Senate-Passed Reconciliation Bill Won’t Strip $300 Billion From Medicare,” headlined Kaiser Health News (KHN) and Politifact. “To the contrary,” writes Paul N. Van de Water of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “The bill will improve Medicare drug benefits by limiting the total amount of cost sharing that a beneficiary will be required to pay in any year.” Regarding PhRMA CEO Ubl’s falsities that the drug pricing scheme is based on “a litany of false promises,” P4ADNow’s Sarah Kaminer Bourland explains, “these reforms finally even the playing field and allow the federal government to come to the table and use its purchasing power.” And Richard Frank of the USC-Schaeffer Initiative debunks Ubl’s letter in an op-ed, saying, “one should not be swayed by a self-serving set of falsehoods, exaggerations, and muddled analyses in considering the advances offered by the act.” P4ADNow’s David Mitchell told KHN, “The idea that taking a small bite out of pharma revenue is going to stop them from creating new drugs is bullshit.” Sorry, Big Pharma, time to face the music: Your unlimited pricing power stops now. — (Fierce Pharma, Common Dreams, Kaiser Health News and Politifact, Common Dreams, The Hill, Kaiser Health News)
5. What’s Next?
While Democrats in Congress, patients, and advocates won a big victory against Big Pharma with the Inflation Reduction Act, the work to lower drug prices for all Americans continues on. With the establishment of brand new drug pricing programs such as Medicare negotiation, work to ensure strong implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act will be a key focus in the year to come. Efforts to extend the $35 insulin copay cap to all Americans were thwarted by Republicans in the Senate and the requirements of the reconciliation procedure limited the scope of price hike penalties. Now advocates and patients, including P4ADNow, will be turning to fight for new reforms to address high drug prices for all Americans, including families on private insurance like advocate Clayton McCook and his daughter Lily, and the uninsured, like patient Iesha Meza. The force behind the Inflation Reduction Act was the voice of patients and advocates, luckily they aren’t ready to stop anytime soon. — (CNBC, Axios, Washington Examiner, NBC News, Deseret News)
Have a great weekend, everyone!
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following statement was issued by David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, in response to the House of Representatives’ passage of the Inflation Reduction Act:
“Today marks a moment many Americans have been fighting for for decades; Congress stood up to Big Pharma and passed the historic drug price provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that will lower prescription drug prices and out-of-pocket costs for millions of Americans. With this legislation, we have changed the trajectory of drug pricing policy in the United States. We have finally begun to break the power of multinational drug corporations to dictate prices of brand-name drugs to the American people.
“Thank you to the Democrats in Congress who have been fighting for these reforms for literally decades, and to Speaker Pelosi for her steely, determined leadership on the issue and swift passage of the legislation.
“For years, hundreds of thousands of patients across America have tirelessly advocated for these changes – they are the force behind these monumental reforms. There’s still more to be done to address other features of our system to ensure all Americans can afford their medications, and we will continue to push for the additional reforms needed. But for now, this legislation will rein in prices, lower out-of-pocket costs, and improve the lives of millions.
“We look forward to President Biden putting his signature on the Inflation Reduction Act and getting to work on implementation.”
