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 CREATESAct 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 2019cleared 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.
H.R. 3 under every Christmas tree!
1. A Win for All Americans
The House passed landmark Medicare negotiation legislation that would lower drug prices for Americans. Now let’s make a deal in the Senate. — (The New York Times)
2. How Stuff Works: Lowering Drug Prices
H.R. 3 passed in the House, but how would it work? Read: — (NPR)
3.100k a Year for Life
New sickle cell treatments are welcome, but we must consider taxpayer investment and push for fairer pricing for everyone! — (The New York Times)
4. Deep Pockets, Shallow Impact
Pharma’s ad bonanza to stop bills that would lower drug pricing failed. Americans want to let Medicare negotiate, and nothing will change that. — (STAT)
5. First Come Reforms, Then Come the Lawsuits
Big Pharma is trying to stop good transparency legislation in Oregon. — (Jefferson Public Radio)
Waiting on PhRMA to announce its plan to lower drug prices like…
1. Dark Money in a Hard Hat
Pharma is hiring former union bosses to defeat drug pricing reforms, even as union members struggle with drug costs. — (The New York Times)
2. Juicing Profits at Patient Expense
Gilead is accused of delaying safer HIV drugs to make piles of cash on older drugs with harmful side effects. — (The Washington Post)
3. Consult the Map
Patients across America are speaking out about increasing drug costs. Read their stories on P4AD’s interactive map. — (P4AD)
Big Pharma’s fear mongering on the threat H.R. 3 poses to innovation is exposed as hyperbole. — (Kaiser Health News)
1. We Could Do This For So Much Less
Letting academic medical centers make CAR-T drugs would save billions. — (STAT Op-Ed)
2. Betrayal
Doctors who were instrumental in developing a groundbreaking heart drug are now decrying its exorbitant price tag. — (Bloomberg)
3. Forced to Buy High
While generic drugs are seeing approvals in record number, these drugs are increasingly experiencing delays when it comes to reaching patients. — (The Wall Street Journal)
4. “Most new drugs aren’t that innovative.”
Big Pharma’s biggest argument for maintaining high prescription prices is full of cracks. — (The Hill)
5. Congress, Please Wake Up
America wants lower drug prices. How many times and in how many ways and with how many polls can we say this???? — (Kaiser Family Foundation)
1. “Why is the price so high?”
In recognition of World Diabetes Day, P4AD released a new report that tells the story of how the insulin pricing crisis came to be and what we must do to fix it. — (P4AD & NBC)
2. Something Must Change
A new study found that 34 million Americans know at least one person who has died after not receiving medical treatment due to cost — including drug prices. — (Gallup)
3. OK, Pharma
In 2018, prices for some of the most widely used drugs increased by more than double the rate of inflation. — (AARP)
4. False Claims Exposed
A new analysis found brand-name drugmakers could lose $1 trillion in lower sales and *still* be the most profitable industry sector ($@%#!?), all while maintaining current research investments.— (West Health)
5. Forced to Ration
In the U.S., patients are far more likely than in other developed nations to ration drugs due to cost. — (The New York Times)
It’s a good week when the government stands up to Big Pharma patent predators.
1. PrEP Yourself For a Showdown
The U.S. government filed a lawsuit accusing drug maker Gilead of ignoring government patents while raking in billions from HIV-prevention drugs (funded with millions in taxpayer investment). — (The Washington Post)
2. The Struggle is Real
A recent study found that more than half of Medicare enrollees face financial hardships, especially when it comes to prescription drug costs. — (Chicago Tribune)
3. It’s Not Working
The way we pay for prescription drugs is broken, but not beyond repair. H.R. 3 is a promising solution. — (The New York Times Editorial Board)
4. Her Insulin Costs More Than Her Mortgage
P4AD patient advocate Gail DeVore, a person with type 1 diabetes, shares her story about the crippling impact of sky-high insulin prices — (News 5 Cleveland)
5. 2020
A new poll in key battleground states finds health care — and that always includes drug pricing — is a top issue for voters in the lead up to 2020. — (Kaiser Family Foundation & Cook Political Report)
1. Big Pharma’s Zombie Lies Must Die
Dr. Peter Bach explains how the U.S. can lower drug prices at little cost to drug discovery. — (Bloomberg)
2. Get into it
Rep. Steven Horsford reminds us lowering drug prices is one of the most bipartisan things ever. Get it done, Congress. — (Las Vegas Sun)
3. Patient voices heard
Patients who require unaffordable prescriptions to live — Revlimid and insulin — share the red tape and heartbreak. — (Al Jazeera America)
4. Yes, but
The cystic fibrosis community (including this CF mom) is rightly celebrating an exciting new drug. But at $311k/year, patients who spent their lifetimes fundraising to create new treatments are sure to be left behind. — (The Washington Post)
5. The Money Train
As Big Pharma prepares for what could be one of its most challenging years in Washington, the lobby’s minions swarm Congress to maintain their influence. — (Open Secrets)
Will Washington take a swing at lowering drug prices? Senate, House, and Administration reforms would be a home run for patients.
1.The Plot Thickens
A new report uncovered an elaborate campaign complete with celebrity cops, seven-figure ads, and a shady consulting firm — all funded by PhRMA. — (Bloomberg)
2. A Win for Patients
The House Ways & Means Committee took a significant step in the right direction by voting to advance HR 3, legislation that would lower drug prices for all Americans — regardless of insurance type. — (AP)
3. The Legacy of a Hero
America lost drug pricing hero Rep. Elijah Cummings. Now, House members are advancing a bill in his honor. — (Fierce Pharma)
4. Taxpayer drug development
Over the past decade, one in four new medicines benefitted from late-stage taxpayer-funded research, including clinical trials. Time for pharma to stop price gouging off of public science. — (British Medical Journal)
5. Big Momentum:
Patients are speaking out, and ideas and legislation are moving forward in the Senate and the House. — (P4ADN)
