STATEMENT: Patients For Affordable Drugs Now Applauds House Ways And Means Committee For Advancing H.R. 3 In Reconciliation Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following statement was issued by David Mitchell, a cancer patient and founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, following the House Ways and Means Committee’s favorable report on the reconciliation bill:

“The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee stood strong with patients today by voting to advance H.R. 3 in the reconciliation package. The inclusion of this strong Medicare negotiation legislation fuels momentum towards comprehensive, meaningful reform to provide relief to millions of Americans facing high drug prices in this country. 

“We applaud Chairman Richard Neal and Democratic members on the committee for standing up to Big Pharma and fighting for H.R. 3, which will ensure patients get the innovation we need at prices we can afford. 

​​”Now the House and Senate must move forward with reconciliation to fulfill their promise to pass strong Medicare negotiation to lower drug prices on behalf of Americans.” 

BACKGROUND:

• The successful Ways and Means Committee vote follows a tie vote from earlier today in the Energy and Commerce Committee that occurred after three Democrats failed to support drug pricing provisions. Our statement responding to these three members can be found here. Ways and Means’ favorable report ensures that H.R. 3 will be incorporated into the reconciliation package that moves to the floor.
• The House’s advancement aligns with the president’s Build Back Better plan, which includes lowering drug prices through Medicare negotiation.  
  • The president’s Build Back Better plan builds on his campaign promise to lower prices by allowing Medicare to negotiate. 
  • Since then, the president has doubled down on his commitment, and he strongly reaffirmed his support for lower drug prices through Medicare negotiation.
• The Senate Finance Committee is drafting a bill that would allow Medicare to negotiate and is likely to be included in the Senate’s final reconciliation package. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden recently released his guiding principles for drug pricing reform, which are expected to be included in the bill. Chairman Wyden said, “We are moving aggressively to put together a prescription drug package that protects those millions of Americans who believe they’re getting mugged at the pharmacy.” When asked if the reconciliation bill will include Medicare negotiation, he responded, “No question about it.” 
  • The Wall Street Journal reported, “Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders has said he hopes to include provisions allowing the federal government to negotiate prices for certain costly drugs in Medicare.”

###

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passing H.R. 2113, legislation aimed at stopping drug price gouging and shedding light on secret PBM activity, Ben Wakana, the Executive Director of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now, issued the following statement:

“The bipartisan bill that passed today is a small step toward addressing an issue that 8 in 10 Americans say is a top priority. Patients appreciate Chairman Neal, Ranking Member Brady, and members on both sides of the aisle for working on an issue that is sending far too many Americans into debt.

“While we want to recognize today’s small win over Big Pharma, more action is necessary to help patients and lower prescription drug prices. We look forward to working with Congress to see further reforms enacted.”

BACKGROUND:

PRICE GOUGING: Language included in today’s bill would require drug manufacturers to provide written justification for price increases of 10 percent or $10,000 over 1 year, 25 percent or $25,000 over 3 years, or a starting drug price of more than $26,000. The drug company’s justification would be made public on the HHS website and failure to report justification would result in a $10,000 per day fine.

PBM TRANSPARENCY: Language included in today’s markup would make public on HHS’ website information on PBM rebates. The information would include, by drug class, the aggregate amount of rebates, discounts, or price concessions that are passed through to the plan sponsor.

###