Nearly 40 Labor, Business, Consumer, And Health Care Groups Support Medicare Negotiation For Lower Drug Prices

NEW JERSEY — Nearly 40 labor, business, consumer, and health care organizations sent a letter this week calling on Congress to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. The letter praises H.R. 3, the House bill that would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, as well as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden’s recent guiding principles for drug pricing reform, which are expected to be considered for inclusion in the Democrats’ reconciliation budget package later this year.

“We hope, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Menendez recognizes that major labor, business, consumer, and health care groups in this nation all agree that Medicare must have the ability to negotiate lower drug prices for Americans,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Nine out of 10 Americans support this policy. We are calling on Senator Menendez to stand with patients against Big Pharma’s lobbying machine.” 

Big Pharma has been spreading lies to try to stop drug pricing reform from moving forward — the pharmaceuticals and health products industry spentabout $92 million on lobbying in the first quarter of the year, more than any other industry.

The letter, addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, asks them to:  

• Authorize Medicare to negotiate drug prices, especially for high-cost drugs, and allow the Department of Health and Human Services to do so on behalf of all payers. 
  • The letter calls for negotiated prices to consider key components including: research and development costs, including prior federal support; data on net prices, sales across all markets, and projected revenue; costs of production and distribution; and data on comparative effectiveness.
• Cap price increases on existing drugs to the rate of inflation for all Medicare and private plans.
• Redesign Part D to lower prices and costs for beneficiaries and taxpayers. That includes a reduction in out-of-pocket costs and overall costs, including holding the line on insurance premiums for consumers, regardless of coverage type or insurance status. 

“This year provides the best opportunity in decades to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and bring meaningful relief to millions of Americans who struggle to afford their prescription drugs,” Mitchell continued. “As President Biden said, ‘Let’s do it now.’”

Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is one of nearly 40 organizations that signed onto the letter, which was led by Families USA. In an effort to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate, P4ADNow recently launched a campaign calling on Senator Menendez to support policy reform that would bring relief to New Jerseyans.

###

CALIFORNIA — Nearly 40 labor, business, consumer, and health care organizations sent a letter this week calling on Congress to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. The letter praises H.R. 3, the House bill that would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, as well as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden’s recent guiding principles for drug pricing reform, which are expected to be considered for inclusion in the Democrats’ reconciliation budget package later this year.

“We hope Rep. Peters recognizes that major labor, business, consumer, and health care groups in this nation all agree that Medicare must have the ability to negotiate lower drug prices for Americans,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Nine out of 10Americans support this policy. We are calling on Rep. Peters to stand with patients against Big Pharma’s lobbying machine.” 

Rep. Peters refuses to support H.R. 3, a bill that would allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. He touted his support for the bill in 2019 but more recently came out in opposition, threatening to derail his party’s budget bill if it includes the legislation. 

Big Pharma has been spreading lies to try to stop drug pricing reform from moving forward — the pharmaceuticals and health products industry spentabout $92 million on lobbying in the first quarter of the year, more than any other industry.

The letter, addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, asks them to:  

• Authorize Medicare to negotiate drug prices, especially for high-cost drugs, and allow the Department of Health and Human Services to do so on behalf of all payers. 
  • The letter calls for negotiated prices to consider key components including: research and development costs, including prior federal support; data on net prices, sales across all markets, and projected revenue; costs of production and distribution; and data on comparative effectiveness.
• Cap price increases on existing drugs to the rate of inflation for all Medicare and private plans.
• Redesign Part D to lower prices and costs for beneficiaries and taxpayers. That includes a reduction in out-of-pocket costs and overall costs, including holding the line on insurance premiums for consumers, regardless of coverage type or insurance status. 

“This year provides the best opportunity in decades to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and bring meaningful relief to millions of Americans who struggle to afford their prescription drugs,” Mitchell continued. “As President Biden said, ‘Let’s do it now.’”

Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is one of nearly 40 organizations that signed onto the letter, which was led by Families USA. In an effort to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate, P4ADNow recently launched a campaign calling on Rep. Peters to support policy reform that would bring relief to Californians.

###

DELAWARE — Nearly 40 labor, business, consumer, and health care organizations sent a letter this week calling on Congress to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. The letter praises H.R. 3, the House bill that would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, as well as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden’s recent guiding principles for drug pricing reform, which are expected to be considered for inclusion in the Democrats’ reconciliation budget package later this year.

“We hope, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Carper recognizes that major labor, business, consumer, and health care groups in this nation all agree that Medicare must have the ability to negotiate lower drug prices for Americans,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Nine out of 10 Americans support this policy. We are calling on Senator Carper to stand with patients against Big Pharma’s lobbying machine.” 

Big Pharma has been spreading lies to try to stop drug pricing reform from moving forward — the pharmaceuticals and health products industry spentabout $92 million on lobbying in the first quarter of the year, more than any other industry.

The letter, addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, asks them to:  

• Authorize Medicare to negotiate drug prices, especially for high-cost drugs, and allow the Department of Health and Human Services to do so on behalf of all payers. 
  • The letter calls for negotiated prices to consider key components including: research and development costs, including prior federal support; data on net prices, sales across all markets, and projected revenue; costs of production and distribution; and data on comparative effectiveness.
• Cap price increases on existing drugs to the rate of inflation for all Medicare and private plans.
• Redesign Part D to lower prices and costs for beneficiaries and taxpayers. That includes a reduction in out-of-pocket costs and overall costs, including holding the line on insurance premiums for consumers, regardless of coverage type or insurance status. 

“This year provides the best opportunity in decades to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and bring meaningful relief to millions of Americans who struggle to afford their prescription drugs,” Mitchell continued. “As President Biden said, ‘Let’s do it now.’”

Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is one of nearly 40 organizations that signed onto the letter, which was led by Families USA. In an effort to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate, P4ADNow recently launched a campaign calling on Senator Carper to support policy reform that would bring relief to Delawareans.

###

OREGON — Nearly 40 labor, business, consumer, and health care organizations sent a letter this week calling on Congress to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. The letter praises H.R. 3, the House bill that would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, as well as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden’s recent guiding principles for drug pricing reform, which are expected to be considered for inclusion in the Democrats’ reconciliation budget package later this year.

“We hope Rep. Schrader recognizes that major labor, business, consumer, and health care groups in this nation all agree that Medicare must have the ability to negotiate lower drug prices for Americans,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Nine out of 10Americans support this policy. We are calling on Rep. Schrader to stand with patients against Big Pharma’s lobbying machine.” 

Rep. Schrader has refused to support H.R. 3, a bill that would allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, in this Congress. He originally said he was proud of his vote in support of H.R. 3 in 2019, but since then has raised concerns about the legislation, even suggesting Congress take a less “robust”approach to drug pricing reform, contrary to the wishes of 90 percent of Americans. 

Big Pharma has been spreading lies to try to stop drug pricing reform from moving forward — the pharmaceuticals and health products industry spentabout $92 million on lobbying in the first quarter of the year, more than any other industry.

The letter, addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, asks them to:  

• Authorize Medicare to negotiate drug prices, especially for high-cost drugs, and allow the Department of Health and Human Services to do so on behalf of all payers. 
  • The letter calls for negotiated prices to consider key components including: research and development costs, including prior federal support; data on net prices, sales across all markets, and projected revenue; costs of production and distribution; and data on comparative effectiveness.
• Cap price increases on existing drugs to the rate of inflation for all Medicare and private plans.
• Redesign Part D to lower prices and costs for beneficiaries and taxpayers. That includes a reduction in out-of-pocket costs and overall costs, including holding the line on insurance premiums for consumers, regardless of coverage type or insurance status. 

“This year provides the best opportunity in decades to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and bring meaningful relief to millions of Americans who struggle to afford their prescription drugs,” Mitchell continued. “As President Biden said, ‘Let’s do it now.’”

Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is one of nearly 40 organizations that signed onto the letter, which was led by Families USA. In an effort to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate, P4ADNow recently launched a campaign calling on Rep. Schrader to support policy reform that would bring relief to Oregonians.

###

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 CREATES Act 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 2019 cleared 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 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.

  ###

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.”

 ###

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 to Washington 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.

  ###