Latest News | Dec 20, 2021

P4ADNow To Congress: Drug Price Provisions Are Overwhelmingly Popular And Urgently Needed; Must Be Included As Negotiations Continue On Reconciliation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following statement was issued by David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, following the announcement that Congress will not pass Build Back Better this year:

“We are very disappointed that Congress will not pass reforms to lower drug prices before the end of the year. As Democrats in Congress consider how to move forward on a reconciliation package, however, the provisions painstakingly negotiated to lower drug prices must be maintained. 

“The drug price provisions in the current Build Back Better package are the top priority for Americans – overwhelmingly supported by more than 80 percent of voters – Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike. By allowing negotiations, capping price increases at the rate of inflation, and limiting out-of-pocket costs for seniors and people who are insulin-dependent, the historic reforms will make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and all Americans. These reforms will also protect innovation by maintaining our current system in which drug companies will be able to set prices on new drugs and be rewarded with a period of exclusivity lasting five to 12 years. Further, they will be exempt from negotiations for nine to 13 years.

“Importantly, the drug provisions will fight inflation by holding the line on premiums and health care costs for employers, employees, and taxpayers. These provisions will actually produce a net savings for the government instead of contributing to the deficit. 

“Medicare negotiation to lower prescription drug prices passed the House and enjoys the support of all 50 Democratic senators. We hope to work with members in both chambers of Congress to finish the job and pass these landmark reforms swiftly in the new year. We have never been as close as we are now. Failure is not an option.”

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Welcome to the Week in Review.

1.  New Ads: “Patients Can’t Wait Any Longer” 

2. Letter To The Senate

3. “I’m Tired,” Mr. President 

4. How Will BBB Help Patients

5. Americans Rally Around BBB 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now launched a new radio ad today as part of its campaign in West Virginia highlighting Senator Joe Manchin’s strong support for Medicare negotiation to lower drug prices and asking him to help pass the Build Back Better Act by the end of the year. The campaign includes a new 60-second radio ad, digital ads, and grassroots advocacy, in which patients write and call the senator directly thanking him for supporting Medicare negotiation and asking him to pass the Build Back Better Act, including the current provisions that will lower drug prices for West Virginians.

“In a time when Americans are facing higher prices for everything, we are very grateful that Senator Manchin is taking on astronomical drug prices by championing direct Medicare negotiation to lower prescription drug costs for people in West Virginia and across the nation,” 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. “We need Senator Manchin’s help to rein in prices of prescription drugs by passing the Build Back Better Act this year.” 

The ad launches following the release of drug price provisions from Senate committees on Saturday and the passage of the Build Back Better Act out of the House of Representatives last month. The Build Back Better Act includes legislation that 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, “Senator Manchin supports Medicare negotiation – and to get it done, we’re counting on him to pass the Build Back Better Act before the end of the year. West Virginia patients can’t wait any longer.”

Listen to the full radio ad here.

All of P4ADNow’s recent ads can be viewed here.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now launched a new ad today in Arizona as part of its campaign urging Senator Kyrsten Sinema to vote for the Build Back Better Act to lower prescription drug prices. The 30-second video ad features two Arizona patients, Phoenix advocate Iesha Meza and Tucson advocate Brenda Dickason. In addition, the campaign includes digital ads and grassroots advocacy, in which patients write and call the senator and ask her to vote in favor of the Build Back Better Act and ensure the current drug price provisions remain strong. 

The ad opens with Iesha, who depends on insulin to manage her type 1 diabetes. “Millions of Americans can’t afford the medicines they need to survive,” Iesha says. “I had to ration my insulin, and it almost killed me.” Brenda, a small business owner and former police detective and teacher who lives with asthma and severe allergies, then says, “I devoted my life to serving my community as a police detective and teacher. I had to start a small business, and I still can’t afford all of my prescriptions.” 

“During negotiations earlier this year, Senator Sinema agreed to the drug price provisions in the Build Back Better Act, and Americans are counting on her to follow through,” 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. “9 out of 10 Arizona voters support allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices — the Build Back Better Act is Senator Sinema’s chance to deliver on her commitment and provide relief to seniors and patients who have been waiting for these reforms.”

The ad launches following the release of drug price provisions from Senate committees on Saturday and the passage of the Build Back Better Act out of the House of Representatives last month. The Build Back Better Act includes legislation that 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. 

“There’s a plan in Congress to let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices – Senator Sinema says she supports it,” the new ad concludes. “To get it done, she needs to vote for the Build Back Better Act now. Arizonans can’t afford to wait any longer.” 

Watch the full ad here. 

All recent P4ADNow ads can be found here. 
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — AARP and Patients For Affordable Drugs Now sent a letter calling on the Senate to pass the provisions to lower drug prices in the Build Back Better Act that were painstakingly negotiated earlier this year, and to reject any amendments that would weaken these provisions. 

“Reducing drug prices is not an afterthought for the American people: It is the single most popular element of the Build Back Better plan. Indeed, a recent independent survey showed overwhelming public support, with more than 8 out of 10 Americans, regardless of party, supporting this reform,” 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. “We urge you to pass the prescription drug pricing deal and firmly reject any efforts to weaken it.”  

The Build Back Better Act includes drug pricing legislation that 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. 

“If prices for other products rose at the same rate as prescription drugs [over the past 15 years], a gallon of milk would now cost $13, and a gallon of gas would cost $12.20,” the letter continues. “These kinds of price increases on other consumer goods would rightfully demand swift action, but seniors have been waiting decades for relief from out-of-control drug prices.”

Read the full letter here and below.  
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Happy holidays from all of us at P4ADNow!
Welcome to the Week in Review.

1.  Patients Take Stories To The White House

2. This Is Why We Need Drug Pricing Reforms

3. Loud And Clear

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Senate considers the Build Back Better Act, three patient advocates from across the country shared their stories about the impact of high insulin prices directly with the president and vice president. Iesha, from Phoenix, shared her story about living with type 1 diabetes and introduced President Biden today ahead of his remarks on how the Build Back Better Act will lower prescription drug prices. President Biden also mentioned Sa’Ra, from Indianapolis, who lives with type 1 diabetes and met with the president earlier today. The White House released a video of patient advocate Gail, from Denver, who spoke with President Biden over the summer and also spoke with Vice President Harris recently about the need to get the Build Back Better Act across the finish line.  

Below is more information about Iesha, Sa’Ra, and Gail.

Iesha, from Phoenix, lives with type 1 diabetes. She was forced to ration her insulin because she could not afford it, until she ended up at the hospital in a diabetic coma. Iesha recovered but continues to live with worries that her circumstances could change at any moment. When she recently switched jobs, her copay for the same insulin jumped from $35 to $50 a month. The Build Back Better Act would provide her consistency and the knowledge that no matter what insurance she is on, her insulin copay will be $35 a month per prescription.  
“President Biden gets it. He has a plan,” Iesha said today in her introduction. “For me, President Biden’s Build Back Better Act would mean peace of mind. I know how fast our circumstances in life can change. In addition to my illness, I’m plagued with the fear that I may not be able to afford my insulin again. I want to see a future where young people like me don’t have our lives revolve around our prescription drugs and we don’t have to make career and life choices around insurance benefits. That’s why I’m so grateful for President Biden’s leadership on tackling the high costs of prescription drugs — particularly insulin.”

Watch the president’s full remarks here. 

Sa’Ra, from Indianapolis, visited the White House today, and the president shared her story in his speech as well. Both Sa’Ra and her younger sister were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a young age. In college, they began sharing and rationing their insulin in order to be able to afford it. After rationing a dose one day in 2018, Sa’Ra’s sister entered diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially deadly complication of the illness. 

President Biden said, ”[Sa’Ra] told me that affording insulin has been the challenge of her and her family’s entire life.” The experience motivates Sa’Ra to fight for affordable insulin for people with diabetes so they can stop living in fear of high prices.

Gail, a small business owner and patient advocate from Denver, met with President Biden over the summer to share her story of living with high drug prices and to discuss the president’s Build Back Better plan, which would allow Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. Gail lives with type 1 diabetes and takes insulin produced by ​​Novolog that is priced at over $280 per vial. 
  
Today, the White House released this new video of a follow-up conversation she had with Vice President Kamala Haris.  


“Having this included in the Build Back Better plan is absolutely a dream come true for so many, especially the $35 copay cap,” Gail told the vice president in the video. “Nobody should ever have to make the choice between feeding your kids or paying for your insulin. So having the Build Back Better plan really address it has just been a fabulous response to our needs.

All three patients are available to speak with the press upon request.
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