News

Congress is closer than it has ever been to passing historic legislation that will drive down health care costs and level the playing field for working families. A core piece of this legislation is lowering prescription drug prices. As it stands, Americans pay three times more for prescription drugs than people in other countries, forcing millions to choose between affording their medications and paying for essentials like food or rent. With this legislation, Medicare will finally have the power to negotiate for lower drug prices and all Americans will be protected against outrageous and arbitrary price increases, but Big Pharma is pulling out all the stops to try to protect their sky-high profits and block the bill’s passage. With the help of their Republican allies, drug companies have been relentless in their efforts to spread lies about the Democrats’ plan to lower drug prices for families. Here’s what they’re doing now: 

1. Trying to Keep People With Commercial Insurance From Paying Less for Their Drugs: The pharmaceutical industry has long viewed the Senate parliamentarian as their last hope to kill drug pricing reform as they desperately lobby to remove the drug provisions in the bill. Republican lobbyists are pushing for the parliamentarian to strike key provisions allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, repealing the Trump administration’s drug rebate rule, and forcing drug makers who raise prices faster than inflation to issue rebates. 
2. Threatening Members Of Congress Who Stand Up For Lower Drug Prices:  PhRMA is openly threatening members of Congress who vote for lower drug prices with political retaliation. PhRMA and its 31 board members sent a letter to every member of Congress yesterday afternoon, urging them to vote against the package, and PhrMA head Steve Ubl has plainly stated that, “Those members who vote for this bill will not get a free pass. We’ll do whatever we can to hold them accountable.” Ubl has indicated that the drug lobby will use its massive war chest to attack anyone who votes for lower drug prices, warning that “Few associations have all the tools of modern political advocacy at their disposal in the way that PhRMA does.”
3. Threatening Patients With Higher Prices And Supply Shortages: Not content just to threaten politicians who stand up for lower prices, the pharmaceutical industry is also threatening patients with higher prices and supply limitations if the Inflation Reduction Act passes. The head of PhRMA claims that one of the group’s member companies will cancel 15 drugs already in the development pipeline if the bill becomes law, and in a scare-mongering briefing last week drug executives said that if IRA passes, there will be reduced supply of lifesaving medicines. And the Congressional Budget Office predicts that manufacturers will respond to passage of this vital legislation by cranking up the launch prices of new drugs to preserve their massive profits.
4. Continuing Their Spending Spree on False Advertising:  According to OpenSecrets, the pharmaceutical industry has spent $101 million lobbying on behalf of 483 clients in 2022, fighting Democratic efforts to rein in prescription drug costs. That is double the amount of spending as the next largest industry. And in the past few weeks, their spending has gotten even more frantic. Research by Patients for Affordable Drugs Now found that PhRMA and its allies have spent at least $18.6 million on television and digital ads since July 1, including $1 million in spending on new television ads just since the Inflation Reduction Act was announced on July 27. Many of these pharma-backed ads have been fact checked as false or misleading. 

Listen to the Call Here.

Washington, DC — Today, Finance Committee Chairman Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) joined patient advocates and Protect Our Care to call on Congress to move swiftly to pass the Inflation Reduction Act. The historic legislation includes critical measures to drive down health care premiums and prescription drug costs for millions of Americans. 

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 extends the enhanced premium tax credits for ACA plans and gives Medicare the power to negotiate prescription drug prices, caps seniors’ out-of-pocket costs for drugs at $2,000 per year, and stops Big Pharma’s egregious annual price hikes. The bill also limits insulin costs at $35 per month for millions of diabetics who depend on it. These measures will help lower costs for millions of working families and address the deep racial inequities in our health care system. 

“The Senate is on the cusp of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lower drug costs for seniors and Medicare, and keep health insurance premiums low for families,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR). “Medicare negotiation, limits on Big Pharma’s price gouging, and an out-of-pocket cap for seniors are going to mark a seismic shift in the relationship between Big Pharma and Medicare. I’m also thrilled that the bill includes several years of enhanced tax credits for middle-class health care. It’s time to pass these important policies to keep costs down for Americans.” 

“We’re standing with the American people to lower prices so they can afford their medicines, and the people are going to win this week,” said Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). “There’s not one industry that has been price gouging for longer and deeper than the pharmaceutical industry. Americans pay the highest prices in the world for prescriptions – three to four times more than people in other countries. We are giving hundreds of billions of dollars to these same companies in taxpayer money for research and development, yet one out of four Americans can’t afford the medicine they need. This is just plain wrong. It’s time to put people over profits.”

“Right now, we have an economy that charges families more for health care than any other industrialized nation,” said Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO). “An economy that forces seniors to cut their pills in half, skip their prescriptions, or choose between buying groceries and the medication they need. That’s outrageous. We have to do everything we can to pass the Inflation Reduction Act to drive down health care costs and lower the price of prescription drugs.”

“Hardworking Georgians are struggling with rising costs, and the Inflation Reduction Act will make real change in their lives,” said U.S. Senator Reverend Warnock (D-GA). “From saving seniors money by allowing Medicare to directly negotiate drug costs, to expanding critical ACA subsidies so health care coverage stays affordable, to lowering insulin costs and limiting how much seniors have to pay for their prescriptions, this legislation will have a lasting impact on people in my state. I’m going to keep working to get this bill passed as soon as possible.”

“As an Atlanta business owner with several autoimmune diseases, I rely heavily on the ACA for health care insurance. Before the pandemic, my brother and I owned five businesses. Now, we’re down to one. I’m working to rebuild my businesses and income, so extending the tax credits are an extreme lifesaver for me,” said Himali Patel, a small business owner from Georgia. “Each month, I’m faced with the difficult decision of choosing to pay thousands for my medications that seem to forever skyrocket or my mortgage and groceries. So, I’m thankful Democrats are fighting to make quality affordable health care and prescription drugs for every American a reality.” 

“I have been a resident of Colorado for almost 40 years. And even longer than that, I’ve been living with type one diabetes now for 50 years. I am required to take insulin injections every single day to stay alive and to stay healthy,” said Gail deVore, a small business owner from Colorado. “As a type one diabetic, I can tell you firsthand that my biggest day to day anxiety is not kidney disease or other complications from diabetes, it’s simply the ability to access and afford my insulin. It’s crucial that our leaders in Congress like you are standing up for people like me, and ensuring that people can afford the medication we rely on to stay alive and to stay healthy.”

“For years, lawmakers have tried and failed to rein in drug costs and lower the cost of health care– but now President Biden and Democrats are getting the job done,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “This achievement is monumental and long-overdue, meeting the needs of Americans from all walks of life. Despite unified Republican opposition and a $100 million lobbying campaign from Big Pharma, Democrats are charging ahead to get this historic legislation over the finish line.” 

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 4 AT 2:00 PM ET***

Senators Tammy Baldwin, Michael Bennet, Bob Casey, Chris Coons, Amy Klobuchar, Ed Markey, Chris Murphy, Alex Padilla, Brian Schatz, Tina Smith, Debbie Stabenow, Chris Van Hollen, and Ron Wyden

Washington, D.C. – Today, August 4 at 2:00 p.m. EST at the Senate Swamp and streamed live online, Senators Tammy Baldwin, Michael Bennet, Bob Casey, Chris Coons, Amy Klobuchar, Ed Markey, Chris Murphy, Alex Padilla, Brian Schatz, Tina Smith, Debbie Stabenow, Chris Van Hollen, and Ron Wyden will hold a press conference with American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Americans for Tax Fairness, Building Back Together, Climate Action Campaign, Center for American Progress, Climate Power, EDF Action, Hispanic Federation, League of Conservation Voters, National Education Association (NEA), Patients for Affordable Drugs Now, Protect Our Care, and Sierra Club, to celebrate the historic, cost-saving climate and health care provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act and urge Congress to swiftly pass the bill and get it to President Biden’s desk. 

The Inflation Reduction Act will deliver important relief to communities facing rising health care costs, high inflation, and suffering from climate-fueled extreme weather events. Critically, the Inflation Reduction Act will be the strongest federal climate legislation in U.S. history and will put the country on track to reduce emissions by roughly 40% by 2030. Additionally, this bill is the most consequential health care legislation since the Affordable Care Act — it will lower health care premiums for millions of Americans and includes historic reforms to lower prescription drug prices including allowing Medicare to negotiate for the very first time. These critical investments are fully paid for by curbing price gouging and tax evasion and by making billion-dollar corporations pay a fairer share of taxes, while protecting families making under $400,000 a year. The Senate and House must pass the bill as soon as possible.

WHAT: ‘Pass the Inflation Reduction Act’ Press Conference 

WHO:
Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Sen. Michael Bennet
Sen. Tom Carper
Sen. Bob Casey
Sen. Chris Coons
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Sen. Ed Markey
Sen. Chris Murphy
Sen. Alex Padilla
Sen. Brian Schatz
Sen. Tina Smith
Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Sen. Chris Van Hollen
Sen. Ron Wyden
Patrick Gaspard, Center for American Progress
Leslie Dach, Protect Our Care
Tiernan Sittenfeld, League of Conservation Voters (LCV)
Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

WHEN: Thursday, August 4 at 2:00 p.m. EST

WHERE: Capitol Hill – Senate Swamp
Located on the grass across the drive from the east Senate steps.

Event will also be streamed live online here.

RSVP: Email [email protected] 

 ***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 4 AT 11:15 AM ET// 9:15 AM MT // 8:15 AM PT***

Senators Join Protect Our Care as Congress on the Cusp of Passing the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

Washington, DC — On Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 11:15 AM ET, Finance Committee Chairman Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) will join patient advocates and Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act’s critical measures to lower health care premiums and prescription drug costs for the American people.  

The event comes as momentum is building on Capitol Hill to pass The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which lowers health care premiums by extending enhanced premium tax credits for ACA plans for three years and drives down prescription drug prices by giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower costs for millions of Americans, capping seniors’ out-of-pocket costs for drugs at $2,000 per year, and stopping Big Pharma’s egregious annual price hikes. This bill will help lower costs for millions of working families and address the deep racial inequities in our health care system. For years, lawmakers have promised to lower health care costs and rein in high drug prices, but President Biden and Democrats are actually getting the job done. 

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO)
U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA)
Himali Patel, small business owner and patient storyteller from Georgia
Gail deVore, patient storyteller and Type 1 diabetic from Colorado
Leslie Dach, Chair of Protect Our Care

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHERE: Register for the Event Here

WHEN: Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 11:15 AM ET

Four new polls show one unmistakable conclusion – the Inflation Reduction Act has overwhelming support from every group of Americans and the most popular items are those addressing health care costs. The plan will bring down the price of prescription drugs by giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices and lower health insurance premiums for millions of Americans. 

Take a look for yourself.

Morning Consult/Politico finds:

– 73% support for “allowing Medicare to negotiate some prescription drug prices”

– 76% support for “placing caps on prescription drug price increases”

– 73% support for “limiting annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries to $2,000”

– 56% support for “extending Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year”

Navigator Research finds strong support by 41-points (65-24%) for Biden and Democrats’ new economic plan, known as the Inflation Reduction Act

• Independents: +40 (61-21%)
• Among Non-College College Educated: +41 (64-23%)
• Among Educated: +43 (69-26%)

Data for Progress finds strong support +51 (73-22%) support for the Inflation Reduction Act.

Yahoo News/YouGov poll finds  61% support (14% oppose) lowering “the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time while capping out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 a year” in the Inflation Reduction Act”

– Among people 65+, support reaches 72-11%.

– Among independents, support reaches 61-13%

News Comes as Congress is on the Cusp of Delivering Most Significant Health Care Legislation Since the ACA

Washington. DC —Today, the Department of Health and Human Services released an analysis showing that a just 8 percent of Americans lacked health insurance at the beginning of 2022 — an all-time low for the nation. Additionally, more than five million Americans gained coverage since President Biden was elected in 2020. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“President Biden has done it again. After Republicans spent years trying to rip coverage away, President Biden has done everything in his power to make health insurance more affordable, accessible, and equitable for the American people. Between signing the American Rescue Plan into law, investing in open enrollment and reversing Republican sabotage, President Biden has delivered on his promise to prioritize the health and well-being of every American. Under his administration, millions of Americans have been able to enroll in coverage giving them much-needed financial relief while ensuring they are protected if they get sick. Now, Democrats in Congress are set to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which will drive down health care and prescription drug prices and deliver affordable care to working families, people with disabilities, and Black and Brown communities. These provisions will ensure millions more Americans have the health care they need for years to come.”

New TV Ad and Lite Brite Demonstration Call on Lawmakers to Act Now and Rein in Big Pharma’s Reckless Greed

Yesterday, Protect Our Care hosted a Lite-Brite demonstration with health care activists outside of PhRMA’s headquarters urging the Democrats in Congress to rein in Big Pharma’s greed and deliver real relief to millions of families. Protect Our Care also launched a new television ad condemning drug companies for doing everything in their power to protect their profits and block reform to lower prescription drug costs for the American people. The events come as momentum builds on Capitol Hill for passing Democrats’ historic Inflation Reduction Act.  

President Biden and Democrats are on the cusp of driving down health care costs and leveling the playing field for working families by including Medicare negotiation and other key health care priorities in their reconciliation package. These provisions stand to benefit millions of Americans, particularly seniors, women, people with disabilities, and Black and Brown communities. However, big drug companies have spent more than $100 million lobbying, political contributions, and misleading advertisements this year alone to block any reform that reduces drug prices at the expense of their sky-high profits. Leading up to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Protect Our Care will continue its activities urging Congress to put an end to drug company greed now. 

This evening, Protect Our Care hosted a Lite-Brite demonstration outside PhRMA’s headquarters in D.C., condemning them for doing everything in their power to protect drug company profits. Thankfully, Democrats in Congress are poised to rein in Big Pharma’s greed and deliver on their promise to lower prescription drug costs. Big Pharma has spent over $100 million on lobbying this year alone in an effort to maintain the status quo that allows them to raise prices while millions of Americans struggle to afford their prescriptions. As it stands, Americans pay three times more for prescription drugs than people in other countries, forcing millions to choose between affording their medications and paying for essentials like food or rent.

The Lite-Brite display comes as President Biden and the Democrats in Congress are moving forward with the most significant health care legislation since the Affordable Care Act. Earlier this week, Senate Democrats announced a historic reconciliation deal that will deliver lower health care costs for millions of families. This Inflation Reduction Act will finally give Medicare the power to negotiate lower costs for millions of Americans, while capping seniors’ out-of-pocket costs for drugs at $2,000 per year and stopping pharmaceutical companies from enacting egregious annual price hikes. The Lite-Brite display makes clear that Congress must act now to put an end to Big Pharma’s greed by quickly getting the reconciliation bill to President Biden’s desk for signature.

Background:

Big Pharma Drops Over $100 Million Fighting Prescription Drug Price Negotiation

The Inflation Reduction Act harbors hope for the millions of Americans who depend on insulin and other life-saving prescription drugs. Insulin is vital to the management of diabetes but often comes with a hefty price tag. The U.S. is a target for Big Pharma price hikes because current policies have allowed them to raise prices year after year unchecked. This legislation – which is the largest health care bill since the ACA – will, for the first time, authorize Medicare to negotiate prices directly for some of the most expensive prescription medicines, including insulin; institute a cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries; and limit annual price increases to stop price gouging by drug corporations. Now, Democrats are also moving to limit the cost of insulin at $35 per month for everyone with insurance.  

Key Points:

• Millions Of Americans Rely On Insulin. 37.3 million Americans—more than 1 in 10—have diabetes, with more than 7 million Americans dependent on insulin to manage their diabetes. In 2017, 3.1 million Medicare Part D enrollees used insulin.
• Skyrocketing Insulin Costs Are Hurting Diabetics. As many as one in four of the 7 million Americans dependent on insulin are skipping or skimping on doses, which can lead to death. This is because of Big Pharma’s outrageous price hikes. The cost of the four most popular types of insulin have tripled over the past decade, with the average price per month rising to $450 in 2016. Eli Lilly, for example, has hiked the price of its brand-name insulin, Humalog, 30 times in 20 years, from $21 per vial in 1998 to nearly $300 in 2018.
• The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Will Lower Costs & Protect Patients. Beginning in 2023, Medicare, group, and individual health plans will be required to cover selected insulin products with out-of-pocket costs capped at $35 per month, regardless if a deductible has been met. The bill would also allow Medicare to negotiate insulin prices directly with drug makers. These provisions are expected to provide savings to millions of insulin users with health coverage.

In The News:

Politico: Insulin ‘Things’ Return In Reconciliation. “Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters on Thursday that insulin provisions will be added back into the reconciliation package…” [Politico, 7/29/22]

Bloomberg: Schumer Seeks to Slash Insulin Prices. “Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said in an interview that she’s trying to resurrect a provision that would subject all insulin products automatically to government negotiations.” [Bloomberg, 7/29/22]

Washington Post: Inflation Reduction Act Is ‘A Truly Historic Breakthrough.’ “‘Now, finally, like every other country in the world, we’ll be able to negotiate with drug companies on expensive drugs. It is a truly historic breakthrough many, many years in the making,’ said David Mitchell, president and founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs, one of the advocacy groups that has been pushing Congress to act.”  [Washington Post, 7/28/22] 

Washington Post: Senate Democrats Weigh Adding Insulin Cost-Saving Measure to Economic Package.  “While discussions are still in flux, [Senators Shaheen and Collins] are now looking at ways to include measures that would address the cost of insulin in the Democrats’ long-sought economic package.” [Washington Post, 7/28/22]

Watch the Ad Here.

Washington, DC — Protect Our Care is releasing a new cable TV ad condemning drug companies for doing everything in their power to protect their profits and block a plan that would deliver lower prescription drug costs to the American people. The ad also applauds President Biden and the Democrats in Congress for standing up to the drug companies with this legislation that will finally rein in Big Pharma’s greed. Pharmaceutical companies have spent over $100 million on lobbying this year alone to try to defeat this plan all while raking in record-breaking profits after jacking up prices for consumers. In America, people pay three times more for the same prescription drugs as they do in the rest of the world, because the drug companies have a monopoly and can set the price at whatever they want. 

The ad comes after Senate Democrats reached a historic deal to reduce health care costs and protect millions of households from health insurance premium spikes. Two decades ago, drug companies got Congress to ban Medicare from negotiating drug prices, but Democrats are on track to undo that ban, giving Medicare the power to lower prices for patients. In addition, the Democrats’ plan will cap seniors’ out-of-pocket drug costs and penalize drug companies that raise prices faster than inflation. President Biden and the Democrats in Congress are working to deliver real relief to millions of American families. 

“Americans are tired of the broken system that puts Big Pharma’s profits above the needs of working families,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “It is shameful that, in the wealthiest country in the world, families are forced to choose between affording essential medications and putting food on the table or paying rent. Thankfully, President Biden and the Democrats in Congress are delivering on their promise to lower health care costs and expand affordable coverage. Meanwhile, Republicans are standing by big drug companies and other special interests, shamefully putting politics before people.” 

Ad Script:

And the drug companies just rake it in hand over fist. They spent $147 million lobbying lawmakers and saw billions of dollars in profits just last quarter alone. 

That’s how the system works. 

UNTIL NOW.

President Biden and Democrats in Congress are making it right.  Standing up to the drug companies.  They’re ending the days where drug companies can charge whatever they want by making them negotiate with Medicare to bring down prices. 

More patients will be able to afford their medicines. More families will be able to get some sleep at night.

It might mean smaller bonuses for drug company CEOs – fewer private jets and smaller yachts for them. But it lowers prices for patients and it’s the right thing to do. 

Paid for by Protect Our Care.