AARP and P4ADNow Joint Letter to Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer on Medicare Negotiation in Build Back Better Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Congress works to finalize the framework for the president’s Build Back Better plan, AARP and Patients For Affordable Drugs Now sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer today urging them to include the most popular provision — allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. The letter identifies key elements that the legislation must include to fulfill promises to meaningfully lower prices for patients: negotiation on the highest-priced drugs, drugs covered under both Medicare Parts D and B, and drugs without meaningful competition; penalties for annual price increases that exceed the rate of inflation; and a hard cap on annual out-of-pocket costs for Medicare patients. 

“This is the moment to enact legislation that will help millions of Americans who are forgoing drugs they have been prescribed but cannot afford, rationing, and choosing between paying rent or paying for prescriptions they need,” 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.

Right now, Americans are forced to pay three times what other wealthy nations pay for the same medicine. Even after hearing the industry’s false claims that negotiation will bring harm to patients and consumers, more than 8 out of 10Americans support allowing Medicare to negotiate.

Read the full letter here and below.  

“Paid for by PhRMA.” ?????????
Welcome to the Week in Review.

1.  The Lies They Tell

• In an op-ed for Business Insider, P4ADNow founder David Mitchell sets the record straight point-by-point on the false claims perpetuated by the pharma lobby and its front groups in fear-mongering ads. “Big Pharma may not have found a cure for my cancer, but it has perfected the science of twisting facts that it doesn’t like to scare patients like me into believing that lowering drug prices will bring us great harm,” Mitchell writes. “If Big Pharma spent more time working on innovative new drugs and less time protecting its power to dictate high prices, we’d get more of what we seek: innovation we need at prices we can afford.” — (Business Insider)

2. Americans Choose Medicare Negotiation

• A new Kaiser Family Foundation survey shows that Americans don’t believe Big Pharma’s lies that Medicare negotiation will harm new drug development. In fact, an overwhelming majority support negotiation even after hearing Big Pharma’s fear-mongering arguments. Additional polls show that Americans believe Medicare negotiation is one of the top reasons to pass the Build Back Better plan, and in states like Arizona and New Jersey, 94 percent and 77 percent of voters, respectively, support the reform. We can save millions of lives now by passing legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. Congress, let’s get it done. — (Kaiser Health News, Axios)

3. Pharma Puts A Price On Our Lives

• P4ADNow patient advocate Hailey Adkisson, whose daughter was born with a rare form of childhood epilepsy and required a medication that cost $280,000 per course, spoke at an event with Senator Wyden last Friday about why Americans need Medicare negotiation now and the toll that high drug prices take on families. “Throughout this epilepsy journey, I have met many families who have had to make incredibly difficult decisions in order to avoid expensive medications,” Hailey said. “How do you say no to a potentially life-saving drug for your child?” — (The Portland Tribune)

4. A False Choice

• Medicare negotiation would allow for both robust drug innovation and more affordable drugs to improve patient access, writes oncologist and health policy expert Ezekiel Emanuel in Politico, adding that proposed legislation would still result in more than 95 percent of new drugs coming to market. “This hardly constitutes the ‘end of innovation’ that drug companies and others ominously warn is inevitable with any price regulation,” Emanuel writes. “What it does mean is that tens of millions of Americans … might finally be able to afford to take the medications that could save their lives.” — (Politico)

5.  Our Voices United

• This week, AARP state directors from Wisconsin and West Virginia, a doctor from Pennsylvania, and patients and their families from Colorado, Nevada, Nebraska, and New Jersey all laid out the case for Congress to pass strong Medicare negotiation legislation and deliver relief to Americans struggling with sky high drug prices. — (Winona Daily News, Exponent Telegram, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Colorado Springs Gazette, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Lincoln Journal-Star, Star-Ledger)

Social media wasn’t working for six hours this week, much like our drug pricing system all the damn time.

Welcome to the Week in Review.

1.  Congress, Arizona Patients Need Your Help

• On Monday, P4ADNow launched a six-figure Arizona ad campaign featuring Phoenix patient Iesha Meza, who lives with type 1 diabetes, and calling on Congress to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. “When you have diabetes, insulin is like water — without it, you’ll die. Now imagine if water cost $300 a vial,” Iesha says in the ad. “I had to ration my insulin, and it almost killed me.” Arizona patients need Senators Sinemaand Kelly, who both made pledges on the campaign trail to lower drug prices, to vote for passage of Medicare negotiation legislation in the reconciliation package. — (P4ADNow)

2. “This Isn’t About Politics”

• On Wednesday, P4ADNow followed up with another ad campaign urging five key House members — Reps. Correa (CA-46), Peters (CA-52), Gottheimer (NJ-05), Murphy (FL-07), and Rice (NY-04) — to support strong Medicare negotiation legislation. All five members voted for H.R. 3 in 2019, then flip-flopped and introduced an ineffective rival bill this year. P4ADNow’s David Mitchell explains that these members of Congress must “deliver on promises to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for Americans — instead of supporting a weak and ineffective substitute masquerading as negotiation and designed to protect Big Pharma.” The campaign’s TV ads feature Kris Garcia, who lives with multiple bleeding disorders and depends on infusions that cost nearly $40,000. P4ADNow also launched an ad thanking Rep. Golden (ME-02)for fighting to let Medicare negotiate lower prices and asking him to get the job done by voting for the Build Back Better Act. “​For millions of Americans like me, this isn’t about politics,” Kris says. “This is about life and death.” — (P4ADNow)

3. Seniors See Through “Mediscare” Ads 

• PhRMA and its front groups are spending heavily on deceptive ads and mailers framing Medicare negotiation as Democratic plans to cut Medicare — but patients aren’t fooled. “Millions of dollars are being spent to deceive seniors into opposing these cost savings, by shadow groups with dirty tactics that don’t have to disclose their donors,” writes the editorial board of New Jersey’s Star-Ledger. “It’s a vivid, grotesque example of the distortions of our political system by big money.” The reality is that the vast majority of New Jersey seniors and Americans, regardless of political affiliation, support Medicare negotiation and believe lawmakers must act to address high drug prices this year. Americans aren’t buying Big Pharma’s lies anymore. — (Axios)

4. Debunking Pharma’s Patient Access Lie

• The Kaiser Family Foundation published a fact check this week in response to the drug industry’s persistent lies that Medicare negotiation will “restrict access to medicines.” The truth: Proposed Medicare negotiation legislation would not allow the government to dictate access to drugs, and lower drug prices will actually improve patient access to medications. Don’t let drug industry propaganda get in the way of lowering drug prices for patients. — (Kaiser Family Foundation)

5.  Taxpayers Fund Innovation

• Merck’s antiviral drug, which may be effective in reducing risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, was developed with $35 million in taxpayer funds. But while the government has already agreed to pay Merck $17.80 per pill once the drug gains emergency use authorization, researchers estimate that it only costs about $0.50 to manufacture each pill, even with a 10 percent profit margin. Like Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, which was 100 percent funded by taxpayers and has boosted three executives and investors into Forbes’ list of the 400 richest people in the United States, Merck’s antiviral drug is yet another example of pharma cashing out on government-funded innovation. — (Axios)

One more thing: This week, health policy experts and constituents wrote op-eds and letters urging Rep. Murphy, Rep. Schrader, and members of Congress to enact legislation to let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices on behalf of Americans. 

CALIFORNIA — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now launched new ads today urging Reps. Scott Peters (CA-52) and Lou Correa (CA-46) to vote for passage of strong Medicare negotiation legislation in the Build Back Better Act. The campaign includes TV and digital ads featuring patient advocate Kris Garcia, who lives with multiple bleeding disorders including hemophilia. It also includes grassroots advocacy, in which patients will write and call their members of Congress directly asking them to pass the Build Back Better Act, including legislation to lower drug prices for patients. 

“Each infusion of medicine that I need to live costs nearly $40,000. But without it, a minor accident can become a medical crisis for me and a financial crisis for my family,” Kris, a father of three based in Denver, explains in the ads. “For millions of Americans like me, this isn’t about politics — this is about life and death.”

In 2019, Rep. Peters (CA-52) touted his support for H.R. 3, a comprehensive bill that allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices. But after receiving over $239,000 in contributions from the pharmaceutical and health products industry, he flip-flopped to oppose the bill, even threatening to derail his party’s budget bill if it includes the legislation. Last month, he voted against inclusion of legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices in the Build Back Better Act. Watch the CA-52 ad here.

“Scott Peters is standing with Big Pharma and against the will of voters, opposing a plan to lower drug prices,” the ad in CA-52 says. “Tell Representative Peters to fight for patients and vote for the Build Back Better Act.”

Rep. Correa (CA-46) voted for the drug pricing measure H.R. 3 in 2019. This year, however, Rep. Correa joined Rep. Peters in introducing a rival drug pricing bill that fails to empower negotiation in Medicare Part D, which accounts for 83 percent of Medicare drug spending, excludes most expensive Part B drugs from negotiation, and has a much higher out-of-pocket cap. He also signed a letter led by Rep. Peters voicing concerns about partisan drug pricing reforms in May and enjoys a close relationship with pharma-allied groups opposed to negotiation. Watch the CA-46 ad here.

“Lou Correa has the chance to fight for Californians by letting Medicare negotiate lower drug prices,” the ad in CA-46 says. “Tell Representative Correa to stand with patients against Big Pharma and vote yes on the Build Back Better Act.”

“91 percent of Californians support allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, and 75 percent of voters think drug prices are unreasonable,” 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. “It is imperative that Reps. Peters and Correa seize this moment and deliver on promises to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for Americans — instead of supporting a weak and ineffective substitute masquerading as negotiation and designed to protect Big Pharma.”

Below are digital ads also running in each district:

P4ADNow also launched ads today urging Reps. Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), and Kathleen Rice (NY-04) to pass strong Medicare negotiation legislation in the Build Back Better Act. These ads come on the heels of P4ADNow’s Arizona ad launch and are running simultaneously with two nationalads that combat Big Pharma’s lies and scare tactics. These ads are part of a seven-figure campaign that includes digital ads running across a variety of websites and news outlets and congressional outreach, where patient advocates are contacting their members of Congress to demand passage of legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate. P4ADNow’s recent ads can be found here. 

On Capitol Hill, Senate and House leadership along with President Biden are working to craft a reconciliation package that includes legislation to let Medicare negotiate and has the support of all Democratic members of Congress. The current House version of the package includes H.R. 3, a comprehensive bill that allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices, which recently advanced out of the Ways and Means Committee.

NEW JERSEY — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now launched a new ad today urging Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) to vote for passage of strong Medicare negotiation legislation in the Build Back Better Act. The campaign includes TV and digital ads featuring patient advocate Kris Garcia, who lives with multiple bleeding disorders including hemophilia. It also includes grassroots advocacy, in which patients will write and call their members of Congress directly asking them to pass the Build Back Better Act, including legislation to lower drug prices for patients. 

“Each infusion of medicine that I need to live costs nearly $40,000. But without it, a minor accident can become a medical crisis for me and a financial crisis for my family,” Kris, a father of three based in Denver, explains in the ad. “For millions of Americans like me, this isn’t about politics — this is about life and death.”

Rep. Gottheimer (NJ-05) voted for a drug pricing measure to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices in 2019 but is now criticizing the Democrats’ efforts to advance an identical bill as part of reconciliation in the House and is defending the drug industry. He also signed onto a rival drug pricing bill this year that fails to empower negotiation in Medicare Part D, which accounts for 83 percent of Medicare drug spending, excludes most expensive Part B drugs from negotiation, and has a much higher out-of-pocket cap. 

Watch the NJ-05 ad here.

“Josh Gottheimer has a chance to fight for New Jerseyans by letting Medicare negotiate lower drug prices,” the ad in NJ-05 says. “Tell Representative Gottheimer to stand with patients and vote yes on the Build Back Better Act.” 

Below is a digital ad also running in the district:

“90 percent of New Jerseyans in Rep. Gottheimer’s district support allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, and 79 percent think drug prices are unreasonable,” 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. “It is imperative that Rep. Gottheimer seize this moment and deliver on promises to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for Americans.”

P4ADNow also launched ads today urging Reps. Lou Correa (CA-46), Scott Peters (CA-52), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), and Kathleen Rice (NY-04) to pass strong Medicare negotiation legislation in the Build Back Better Act. These ads come on the heels of P4ADNow’s Arizona ad launch and are running simultaneously with two nationalads that combat Big Pharma’s lies and scare tactics. These ads are part of a seven-figure campaign that includes digital ads running across a variety of websites and news outlets and congressional outreach, where patient advocates are contacting their members of Congress to demand passage of legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate. P4ADNow’s recent ads can be found here. 

On Capitol Hill, Senate and House leadership along with President Biden are working to craft a reconciliation package that includes legislation to let Medicare negotiate and has the support of all Democratic members of Congress. The current House version of the package includes H.R. 3, a comprehensive bill that allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices, which recently advanced out of the Ways and Means Committee. 

NEW YORK — Patients For Affordable Drugs Now launched a new ad today urging Rep. Kathleen Rice (NY-04) to vote for passage of strong Medicare negotiation legislation in the Build Back Better Act. The campaign includes TV and digital ads featuring patient advocate Kris Garcia, who lives with multiple bleeding disorders including hemophilia. It also includes grassroots advocacy, in which patients will write and call their members of Congress directly asking them to pass the Build Back Better Act, including legislation to lower drug prices for patients. 

“Each infusion of medicine that I need to live costs nearly $40,000. But without it, a minor accident can become a medical crisis for me and a financial crisis for my family,” Kris, a father of three based in Denver, explains in the ad. “For millions of Americans like me, this isn’t about politics — this is about life and death.”

Rep. Rice supported H.R. 3 in 2019, and in 2020 campaigned on lowering drug prices and taking on Big Pharma, but broke her promise to patients and flippedher position by voting against including identical legislation in the Build Back Better Act last month in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. She also signed onto a rival drug pricing bill that fails to empower negotiation in Medicare Part D, which accounts for 83 percent of Medicare drug spending, excludes most expensive Part B drugs from negotiation, and has a much higher out-of-pocket cap. 

Watch the NY-04 ad here.

“Kathleen Rice has a chance to do the right thing and keep her promise to let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices,” the ad says. “Tell Representative Rice to vote yes on the Build Back Better Act.” 

Below is a digital ad also running in the district:

“Nine out of 10 New Yorkers in Rep. Rice’s district support allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, and 8 out of 10 think drug prices are unreasonable,” 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. “It is imperative that Rep. Rice seize this moment and deliver on promises to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for Americans — instead of supporting a weak and ineffective substitute masquerading as negotiation and designed to protect Big Pharma.”

P4ADNow also launched ads today urging Reps. Lou Correa (CA-46), Scott Peters (CA-52), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) to pass strong Medicare negotiation legislation in the Build Back Better Act. These ads come on the heels of P4ADNow’s Arizona ad launch and are running simultaneously with two nationalads that combat Big Pharma’s lies and scare tactics. These ads are part of a seven-figure campaign that includes digital ads running across a variety of websites and news outlets and congressional outreach, where patient advocates are contacting their members of Congress to demand passage of legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate. P4ADNow’s recent ads can be found here. 

On Capitol Hill, Senate and House leadership along with President Biden are working to craft a reconciliation package that includes legislation to let Medicare negotiate and has the support of all Democratic members of Congress. The current House version of the package includes H.R. 3, a comprehensive bill that allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices, which recently advanced out of the Ways and Means Committee.