July 2019

New Ad from Protect Our Care Will Also Target GOP Senators for Supporting Trump’s Lawsuit to Destroy Health Care

Washington DC — Protect Our Care is airing a new ad warning the American people about the Trump lawsuit ahead of oral arguments in the case starting tomorrow, July 9. The lawsuit would overturn American’s health care laws, letting insurance companies deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and raise costs as much as they want. 

The five-figure ad buy starts on the same day that lawyers for President Trump and 19 Republican Governors and Attorneys General go to New Orleans to argue before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of destroying America’s health care. If successful, Trump’s lawsuit would throw our health care system in chaos – ending protections for pre-existing conditions, stripping coverage from 20 million Americans and raising costs across the board. The ad will run on cable in DC, and digitally in-state targeting GOP senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) – who all support Trump’s Texas lawsuit that would decimate their constituents’ health care.

View the ad HERE

Script: 

President Trump and Republicans are in court this week to strike down our health care laws  and rip away coverage from millions of Americans.

If the Trump lawsuit is successful, it would…

….end protections for 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions

…. Raise premiums and the cost of prescription drugs

….and, plunge our health care system into chaos.

This is Donald Trump’s health care plan.

Call Congress: Tell them to oppose the Trump lawsuit to repeal American health care.

Despite Donald Trump’s latest tweets and pronouncements, his record on drug pricing is crystal clear: higher bills for us, huge tax breaks for the drug companies.

“While drug prices hikes squeeze families even harder, all Donald Trump has done is give record-breaking tax breaks to the big drug companies while blocking Medicare from negotiating for lower prices,” said Leslie Dach chair of Protect Our Care. “Tuesday morning, Trump’s lawyers will be in court trying to overturn our health care laws. If they succeed, health insurance companies would be free to stop paying any of the costs of prescription drugs. That’s Donald Trump’s health care plan.”

DONALD TRUMP’S RECORD: Rising Cost of Prescription Drugs

Trump falsely claims he’s done something about it…

• STAT NEWS: Trump falsely claims ‘drug prices declined in 2018’

In reality, it’s getting worse under Trump…

• CBS NEWS: Drug prices in 2019 are surging, with hikes at 5 times inflation

But Trump’s buddies and backers at the big drug companies have gotten more rewards…

• AXIOS: 4 pharma companies saved $7 billion from GOP tax law

Washington, DC — A brief was filed today by the Trump administration in the Texas lawsuit and, unsurprisingly, Trump’s lawyers tripled down on overturning America’s health care. If Trump’s lawsuit is successful, it will drive our system into chaos, rip away protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions, strip coverage from millions more and drive up costs for premiums and prescription drugs. In response, Protect Our Care chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement: 

“In his administration’s brief filed today, President Trump tripled down on sending our health care system into complete chaos. President Trump’s true health care plan couldn’t be clearer: If he wins in court, it means stripping health care from millions of Americans, ending protections for pre-existing conditions and driving up premiums and prescription drug up costs for tens of millions more. The American people overwhelmingly stand against President Trump and the Republican party’s relentless war on their health care.”

Americans are struggling with the rising cost of prescription drugs – having to cut pills in half or even go without doses. 

While people who work for a living are paying the price, drug companies & Trump officials are the big winners. 

WINNERS IN DRUG PRICING: THEM

• AXIOS – “4 Pharma Companies Saved $7 Billion From GOP Tax Law” 
• BUSINESS INSIDER – “Ex-FDA Chief Scott Gottlieb Just Joined the Board of $240 Billion Drugmaker Pfizer”

LOSERS IN DRUG PRICING: US

• WALL STREET JOURNAL – “Drugmakers Push Their Prices Higher”
• CBS NEWS – “Drug Prices In 2019 Are Surging, With Hikes At 5 Times Inflation”

Despite President Trump’s promise to lower the cost of prescription drugs, prices continue to skyrocket under his administration. Drug companies have increased the prices of thousands of medications in 2019. 

The Wall Street Journal: Drugmakers Push Their Prices Higher. “Drugmakers initiated a new round of price increases on their products Monday, with some of them affecting generic hospital-administered injectable drugs that are in short supply…All told, 20 companies increased the list prices of over 40 prescription drugs by an average of 13.1%, according to Rx Savings Solutions, which sells software to help employers and health plans choose the least-expensive medicines. On July 1 last year, 16 companies raised the list prices of dozens of drugs by an average 7.8%.” [The Wall Street Journal, 7/1/19] 

Politico: Drug Prices Persistently Rising Despite Trump Efforts. “On Monday, 104 brand-name and generic drug prices rose by a combined 13.1 percent on average, compared to a 7.8 percent average increase in the price for 318 products a year earlier, according to data from Rx Savings Solutions, a health software company.” [Politico, 7/1/19]

CBS News: Drug Prices In 2019 Are Surging, With Hikes At 5 Times Inflation — “More Than 3,400 Drugs Have Boosted Their Prices In The First Six Months Of 2019.” “Price hikes on prescription drugs are surging in 2019, despite vows from lawmakers and the Trump administration to rein in pharmaceutical costs. So far in 2019, more than 3,400 drugs have boosted their prices, a 17% increase compared with the roughly 2,900 drug price increases at the same time in 2018, according to a new analysis by Rx Savings Solutions, a consultant to health plans and employers. The average price hike for those 3,400 drugs stands at 10.5%, or about 5 times the rate of inflation, the study found.” [CBS News, 7/1/19]

Rising Prices For Commonly Used Drugs, Such As Saline, Hurt Hospitals. “Bob Ripley, chief pharmacy officer at Trinity Health, a nonprofit hospital system in Michigan, said he was surprised to see B. Braun raise prices for products used regularly, such as a saline-solution product whose new price will affect Trinity’s budget. ‘We’re going to buy it, we’re going to pay for it,” he said. “We’re going to have to trim the budget somewhere else.’” [The Wall Street Journal, 7/1/19]

Washington, DC — Today, Politico reported that drug prices rose 10.5 percent over the first six months of 2019 despite President Trump’s constant promises that he would lower them. In response, Protect Our Care executive director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:

“When Donald Trump ran for president he promised universal health care at cheaper prices, and nearly three years later, all he’s done is sabotage Americans’ health care and allowed drug prices to skyrocket. While drug prices spike through the roof, President Trump has put a former drug industry executive in charge of HHS, done nothing to lower prices, but made darn sure the drug companies and their CEOs got billions in tax cuts. On every score related to health care President Trump has failed the American people and the soaring cost of prescription drugs is the most crippling example.”