WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, voters across the country elected candidates who ran on promises to lower prescription drug prices. Today, Patients For Affordable Drugs Now launched a new ad to ensure they deliver on those promises. Democrats and Republicans made relief from rising drug prices a central part of their campaigns through speeches, ads, and debates.
“From Maine to Arizona, voters sent congressional candidates to Washington who committed to relief from high drug prices for the American people. And now we will hold them to those promises,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and the founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now.
“President-elect Biden has made unifying the nation his first priority, and no issue unifies Americans like the need to lower the prices of prescription drugs,” Mitchell added. “We will mobilize our full support behind President-elect Biden and members of Congress from both parties who act to deliver meaningful reform to lower prescription drug prices.”
The new campaign kicks off this week with the ad slated to run on digital media platforms. In the coming months, the campaign will include grassroots mobilization and virtual visits to Capitol Hill by patients to press for promised reforms.
The ad features President-elect Biden and winning Senate candidates on both sides of the aisle promising to take on skyrocketing drug prices. Included in the ad are Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Steve Daines (R-MT), Susan Collins (R-ME), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Senator-elect Mark Kelly (D-AZ).
Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is an independent, bipartisan patient organization focused on advancing policies to lower drug prices. It does not accept funding from any organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs.
TRANSCRIPT:
President-elect Joe Biden: “We’re going to make sure we reduce drug prices.”
SUPER: This election season (thank goodness it’s over)
Senator Tina Smith (D-MN): “I have been working to lower prescription drug prices.”
SUPER: Across the country, Democrats and Republicans made a promise
SUPER: Lower drug prices
Senator Gary Peters (D-IL): “I’m fighting to lower the cost of prescription drugs.”
Senator Steve Daines (R-MT): “He’s taking on Big Pharma.”
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME): “To lower the cost of prescriptions.”
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA): “We have to work on prescription drugs.”
Senator-elect Mark Kelly (D-AZ): “A single prescription can cost thousands.”
SUPER: Now Americans demand that lawmakers deliver on their promise
SUPER: Lower prescription drug prices.
SUPER: Fightpharma.org
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Colorado Voters Give Hickenlooper A Clear Mandate For Drug Pricing Reform in 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After campaigning on the promise to lower drug prices, John Hickenlooper successfully won the Colorado Senate seat. Throughout the campaign, Hickenlooper promised to help families afford prescription drug costs by pushing for Medicare negotiation and transparent drug pricing. With his victory comes a clear mandate from voters for Senator-elect Hickenlooper to stand with patients against Big Pharma and rein in prescription drug prices in 2021.
“Hickenlooper’s victory proves what we have heard from voters across the country: Patients want elected officials who will fight to lower drug prices,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and the founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Hickenlooper’s promise to deliver meaningful drug pricing reform is a commitment we will hold him to as he joins the 117th Congress. Patients can’t wait any longer.”
Hickenlooper ran ads elevating the issue of drug pricing and committing to “help families getting crushed by prescription drug costs.” Voters took Hickenlooper’s commitment to the polls and delivered him a victory, flipping the Senate seat.
In the lead-up to Nov. 3, Coloradans like Kris Garcia from Denver shared their stories to spotlight the struggle Colorado residents face affording prescription drugs. “When you cast your ballot, make sure your candidate has a plan to lower drug prices.”
Garcia’s ad was a part of a seven-figure national campaign launched by Patients For Affordable Drugs Now featuring TV, radio, and digital ads alongside grassroots tools that gave patient advocates the power to engage with candidates on the issue of drug prices.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 9 out of 10 voters named lowering prescription drug prices a top health care issue deciding their 2020 presidential vote. Nationwide, 35 percent of voters said drug pricing is among their most important voting issues, according to Gallup.
P4ADNow is an independent, bipartisan patient organization focused on advancing policies to lower drug prices. It does not accept funding from any organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs.
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Virginia Voters Give Warner A Clear Mandate For Drug Pricing Reform in 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After campaigning on the promise to lower drug prices, Mark Warner successfully won re-election to the U.S. Senate. Throughout the campaign, Warner vowed to allow Medicare to negotiate directly for lower prices. With his victory comes a clear mandate from voters for the senator to stand with patients and rein in prescription drug prices in 2021.
“Senator Warner’s victory proves what we have heard from voters across the country: Patients want elected officials who will fight to lower drug prices,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and the founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “Warner’s promise to deliver meaningful drug pricing reform is a commitment we will hold him to as he joins the 117th Congress. Patients can’t wait any longer.”
Warner, whose daughter has juvenile diabetes, ran ads elevating the issue of drug pricing and highlighting his support of legislation that would allow for Medicare negotiation, put an end to pharmaceutical price gouging, and cap out-of-pocket costs in Medicare. Voters took Warner’s commitment to the polls, delivering him a clear victory.
In the lead-up to Nov. 3, Virginians like Candice Brown from Alexandria shared their stories to spotlight the struggle Virginia residents face affording prescription drugs. “I’ve been on Entyvio for the last year. The only caveat is it’s $6,700 a month. No one can afford that. This drug pricing system was not meant to benefit me as a patient. It was meant to benefit Big Pharma.”
Candice’s ad was a part of a national campaign launched by Patients For Affordable Drugs Now featuring TV, radio, and digital ads alongside grassroots tools that gave patient advocates the power to engage with candidates on the issue of drug prices.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 9 out of 10 voters named lowering prescription drug prices a top health care issue deciding their 2020 presidential vote. Nationwide, 35 percent of voters said drug pricing is among their most important voting issues, according to Gallup.
P4ADNow is an independent, bipartisan patient organization focused on advancing policies to lower drug prices. It does not accept funding from any organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs.
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Whatever the outcome on Tuesday, this election has made one thing clear yet again: Voters care deeply about taking on drug corporations and bringing down the price of prescription drugs.
This cycle, in an unprecedented way, candidates, political parties, and independent expenditure campaigns spent time and money talking about rising prescription drug prices and promising to fix the broken system. Candidates on both sides of the aisle made promises to bring down drug prices — with good reason. Lowering drug prices is a winner in polling, among voters at the kitchen table, and for the economy.
Take a look for yourself.
POLLING demonstrates the power of lowering drug prices.
CANDIDATES put their time and money behind ads and talking points promising to lower drug prices.
LAWMAKERS pay a political price for betting on Big Pharma. Outside entities believe ties to drug corporations are toxic and spent millions this cycle defining candidates as in the pocket of Big Pharma.
VOTERS want to hear about plans to lower drug prices.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — During tonight’s presidential debate in Nashville, Vice President Joe Biden promised to stand with patients and let Medicare negotiate for lower drug prices.
“Drug prices are a top issue for voters, and we appreciate Vice President Biden emphasizing his plan to lower prices, promote competition, and let Medicare negotiate,” said Ben Wakana, executive director of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now.
Watch the clip here.
TRANSCRIPT:
Vice President Biden: “We’re going to make sure we reduce the premiums and reduce drug prices by making sure that there’s competition that doesn’t exist now by allowing Medicare to negotiate.”
BACKGROUND:
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Patients across the country are calling on President Trump and former Vice President Biden to discuss their plans to lower the prices of prescription drugs at the final presidential debate in Nashville Thursday.
“Ever increasing drug prices continue to hurt Americans all across the country,” said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and the founder of Patients For Affordable Drugs Now. “And with the pandemic stealing lives and livelihoods, voters need to hear from the candidates about how they will lower the prices of prescription drugs. We will be listening as the candidates lay out their final arguments Thursday — to hear how they will fight for patients and stand up against pharma.”
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 9 out of 10 voters say lowering prescription drug prices is a top health care issue deciding their 2020 vote. And, 35 percent of voters say drug pricing is among their “most important” voting issues, according to Gallup.
Patients in 15 key battleground states have shared stories of the impact skyrocketing drug prices have had on their lives. Here’s a sample of what patients across the country want the presidential candidates to understand:
Blythe Kauhn, Chandler, AZ, type 1 diabetes: “I feel like more people need to understand that it’s not cheap to have conditions that don’t go away. We don’t get to say, ‘Oh, I don’t want to have diabetes this month.’”
Kris Garcia, Denver, CO, bleeding disorders: “When you cast your ballot, make sure your candidate has a plan to lower drug prices.”
Clayton “DJ” Martin, Jacksonville, FL, sickle cell disease: “As a father with sickle cell, with a daughter with the sickle cell trait, I worry about her future because of the high prices of drugs.”
Patricia McKenzie, Lithonia, GA, type 2 diabetes: “People have to choose between eating and their medications. They have to choose between life and death. And that should not be a choice. Not here in America.”
Jacquie Persson, Waterloo, IA, Crohn’s disease: “I’m voting for candidates who will stand up to Big Pharma and lower the prices of prescription drugs.”
Tammy de la Cruz, North Las Vegas, NV, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: “The cost of this medication is anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500, and I get it every week. Without it, I fear I will become paralyzed again.”
Rose Keller, Concord, NH, cystic fibrosis: “The high cost of drug prices has stripped me, and other young patients like me, of the opportunity to dream about what we might be when we grow up.”
Don Kreis, Concord, NH, Rose’s father: “For my sake, and for the sake of my daughter, I hope you will vote for candidates who fight Big Pharma and stand up for lower drug prices.”
Steven Hadfield, Charlotte, NC, blood cancer: “The doctor has recommended me to work less. But I live in fear over my high drug prices.”
Sophie, 19, Grand Rapids, MI, type 1 diabetes: “It’s going to be my first time voting this year. Prices of drugs have a huge effect on my vote.”
Hazel, 12, Grand Rapids, MI, type 1 diabetes: “I hope you’ll vote for candidates who will fight for lower drug prices.”
Travis Paulson, Eveleth, MN, type 1 diabetes: “Since the pandemic has started, we’ve been forced to buy our medications and insulin at the extraordinary prices they charge here in the U.S.”
Heidi Kendall, Missoula, MT, chronic myeloid leukemia: “It’s scary to depend for my life on a drug that costs so much.”
Kolton Chapman, Pickerington, OH, ulcerative colitis: “When I was on Entyvio, I was responsible for paying $2,000 a month. It was more than I owe in student loans, so I ended up filing for bankruptcy because of my medical debt.”
Rachel Burnett, Pittsburgh, PA, Crohn’s disease: “It’s so unfair to have these illnesses, and it’s so unfair to have to pay so much just to stay alive.”
Candice Brown, Alexandria, VA, ulcerative colitis: “This drug pricing system was not meant to benefit me as a patient. It was meant to benefit Big Pharma.”
Leah Clark, Columbus, WI, Crohn’s disease: “I have big plans for my future, and I can’t afford to have the high cost of drug prices getting in the way of my accomplishments.”
In September, Patients For Affordable Drugs Now launched a national campaign lifting up the voices of patients who are calling on voters to support candidates who will stand up to Big Pharma and fight to lower prescription drug prices. The campaign features TV, radio, and digital ads alongside tools to give grassroots patient advocates the power to engage with candidates on the issue of drug prices. P4ADNow is an independent, bipartisan patient organization focused on policies to lower drug prices. It does not accept funding from any organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs.
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