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July 2021

protectourcare
In Fact Sheet, Research

FACT SHEET: How High Drug Prices Hurt People With Disabilities

Protect Our Care Releases New Fact Sheet As Part of Lower Rx Summer

Today, Protect Our Care is kicking off Week 5 of Lower Rx Summer with a fact sheet underscoring how high drug costs hurt people with disabilities. Throughout the week, Protect Our Care will demonstrate the urgency for reform to bring down drug prices for people with disabilities. 

In June, Protect Our Care announced Lower Rx Summer as part of The Campaign to Reduce Drug Prices. Lower Rx Summer consists of themed weeks of action to demonstrate the urgent need for legislation to lower drug prices principally by giving Medicare the power to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices for all Americans. 

Remaining Theme Weeks for Lower Rx Summer

Week 5 (July 5): How High Drug Prices Hurt People with Disabilities

Week 6 (July 12): How High Drug Prices Hurt People of Color

Week 7 (July 19): How High Drug Prices Hurt Small Businesses

Week 8 (July 26): How High Drug Prices Hurt Children

Week 9 (August 2): Expanding Medicare Benefits—Hearing, Vision, And Dental

Fact Sheet: How High Drug Prices Hurt People With Disabilities 

High prescription drug costs disproportionately hurt the 61 million Americans living with one or more disabilities. The drug pricing crisis across the United States wreaks havoc for millions, particularly those making less than $40,000 per year. Approximately 85 percent of those on Medicaid with a disability are living on annual incomes of less than $25,760, making the surge in drug costs particularly painful. Not only do prescription drug costs create significant financial hardship, but increasing costs have the capacity for deadly outcomes. A 2021 study found that the smallest increase in out-of-pocket medication costs created alarming drops in patients taking drugs as instructed and tragic increases in mortality rates.

Despite these disastrous outcomes, pharmaceutical corporations have continued ramping up the cost of prescription drugs at the detriment of people with disabilities. Big Pharma has been particularly ruthless towards those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Humira, a commonly used RA medication manufactured by AbbVie, has experienced 27 price increases and Medicare beneficiaries using the drug paid an estimated average of $5,471 in annual out-of-pocket costs in 2019.

This outrageous profiteering at the expense of people with disabilities is simply unacceptable. These practices demonstrate the urgent need for Congress to pass the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3), which would provide the federal government the necessary power to negotiate prescription drug prices. Negotiation would save the government and patients nearly $600 billion on prescription drug costs, which could be reinvested to strengthen health care for millions of Americans. There is also action that could be taken today by the 12 states refusing to accept Medicaid expansion. If Republicans quit their needless blockade, a minimum of 500,000 Americans with disabilities would be able to enroll in Medicaid and access essential healthcare. The time for bold action is now.

KEY POINTS

  • Americans with disabilities are struggling to afford rising drug costs on fixed incomes. 61 million Americans have a disability, with millions covered by Medicaid and Medicare. Many of these individuals live on a fixed income, with nearly 85 percent of nonelderly Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities living on less than $25,760 per year.
  • Soaring out-of-pocket costs for specialty drugs hurt people with disabilities. In January of 2021, drugmakers hiked the price of nearly 1,000 drugs, while Americans with disabilities were left struggling to afford needed medications. A recent study found that increasing out-of-pocket costs by just $10 produced a 33 percent increase in mortality. 
  • The time to rein in drug manufacturers and expand coverage is now. Medicaid expansion in the remaining holdout states would provide coverage for at least 500,000 people with disabilities. When living in an expansion state, these individuals are 6 percentage-points more likely to be employed. No one should be forced to live below the FPL in order to have access to lifesaving medical coverage.

For the full fact sheet, click here. 

protectourcare
In Fact Sheet

NEW REPORT: Closing the Medicaid Coverage Gap in South Carolina

Report Outlines Urgent Need for Federal Approach to Provide Relief to Millions of People Who Have Been Locked Out of Coverage

Washington, DC — Today, Protect Our Care is releasing a report on the impacts of the Coverage Gap in South Carolina, one of 13 states that refuse to expand Medicaid. Americans with low-incomes should not be forced to go without health coverage simply because they live in a state that has refused Medicaid expansion. According to the report, nearly 325,000 South Carolinians could gain coverage and, even after paying for the cost of expansion, the state would receive an additional $600 million in from the federal government thanks to the American Rescue Plan.

However, South Carolina Governor McMaster continues to stand in the way of expansion, calling the incentives for expansion in the American Rescue Plan a “bribe.” In response to Republican inaction, Democrats in Congress are now proposing another approach that would have the federal government close the Medicaid expansion gap this year by creating a federal solution to medicare expansion that would bypass those state governments who refuse to do the right thing.

The report comes after leaders of the Congressional Tri-Caucus, which includes the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), joined more than 60 of their colleagues on a letter advocating for closing the coverage gap through the American Families Plan.

“South Carolinians are suffering unnecessarily due to the state’s failure to expand Medicaid. Closing the Medicaid gap will not only provide many low-income families with access to health care, it will help rural hospitals remain open, create jobs, and save lives,” said Congressman James E. Clyburn. “This is not an argument about how much it will cost to expand Medicaid, it is about what it will cost us if we don’t.”

“Waiting for the Republican leaders in these states to change course is no longer a viable option,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “By refusing to expand Medicaid in their state, South Carolina Republican lawmakers are denying coverage to their most vulnerable populations. Despite the overwhelming benefits of Medicaid expansion, and even with the additional incentives included in the American Rescue Plan, Republicans have put politics over people by continuing to reject the program. Democrats are proposing a bold new approach for the federal government to close the expansion gap, and Congress must take action now to make it a reality. Protect Our Care is grateful for the leadership of Majority Whip James Clyburn on this issue and his continuing commitment to ensure South Carolinians and all Americans have access to the care they need.”

Read the new report on closing the coverage gap in South Carolina.

Read the previous reports on Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.

protectourcare
In News

NEW ADS: Protect Our Care Launches First West Virginia Ad in Seven-Figure Campaign Featuring Patient Who Needs Action to Lower Drug Prices

“Mindy” Will Run on Digital Platforms Statewide

Watch the 30-Second Ad Here

Watch the 15-Second Ad Here

(CHARLESTON, WV)  — Protect Our Care, WV held a virtual press conference Thursday to announce its first digital ad release in West Virginia as part of a seven-figure ad campaign about prescription drug prices. The ad features Mindy, a patient  from Morgantown who is struggling to afford her insulin. In the ad, Mindy tells her personal story and relays the importance of giving Medicare the power to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices for all Americans. 

The ad is part of The Campaign to Reduce Drug Prices, a grassroots and communications campaign calling for comprehensive legislation to lower drug prices. The ad will run on digital platforms, focusing particularly on older Americans, beginning on June 29. Protect Our Care will continue to run ads and host events both nationally and in 13 key states, including West Virginia, throughout the summer.

“Mindy’s story is all too familiar in West Virginia and across the country,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “While drug companies are making record profits and raising the price of hundreds of drugs during the pandemic, millions of Americans are forced to choose between paying for the medicines they need to live or paying for food or rent. Drug companies raise the price of existing drugs like insulin year after year, with no reason other than that they can. It’s time for West Virginia lawmakers to do the right thing and support giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices. The time to act is now.”

“West Virginians are suffering and dying because of the high cost of prescription drugs,” said Mindy Salango, who is featured in the West Virginia ad. “Our elected officials work for us. We vote them in. We are their constituents. It takes less than two minutes to call your elected officials and tell them to support the American Families Plan and H.R.3. We have to let our elected officials know where we stand.”

“Over 430-Thousand West Virginians have foregone medications to pay for household bills and essential items – with recent polling showing that 74 percent of West Virginia residents say they are concerned about the cost of their medications,” said Dr. Jessica Ice, Executive Director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care. “Millions of seniors, people living with disabilities, and families are struggling and in desperate need of federal legislation to negotiate drug prices. It’s disingenuous to suggest that pharmaceutical companies cannot conduct research and development with lower prescription drug costs. Taxpayers pay a large proportion of the research that is necessary to produce the drugs that help them live their healthiest life, so to deny a public good, funded by our government, without cost controls is unconscionable.”

Script for “Mindy” (:15): 

I pay about $350 a month for all my supplies in order to keep my blood glucose under control.

The thought of not being able to afford my medication is terrifying.

It’s time for our leaders to act.

Script for “Mindy” (:30): 

I didn’t even know diabetes ran in my family.

When I was first starting out as a diabetic, insulin generally would cost about $25 a month.

Now, I pay about $350 a month for all my supplies in order to keep my blood glucose under control.

The thought of not being able to afford my medication is terrifying.

West Virginians are suffering and dying because of high prescription drug costs.

It’s time for our leaders to act.

You can watch the press conference here, and learn more about how the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) will make prescription drugs more affordable here.

protectourcare
In News

NEW ADS: Protect Our Care Launches First New Jersey Ad in Seven-Figure Campaign Featuring Doctor Who Wants Action to Lower Drug Prices

“Dr. Shah” Will Run on Digital Platforms Statewide

Watch the 30-Second Ad Here

Watch the 15-Second Ad Here

New Jersey — Protect Our Care New Jersey and health care advocates held a virtual press conference to announce Protect Our Care’s first digital ad in New Jersey as part of a seven-figure ad campaign about prescription drug prices. The ad features Dr. Shah, a provider from New Jersey whose patients are struggling to afford their prescriptions. In the ad, Dr. Shah tells his personal story and relays the importance of giving Medicare the power to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices for all Americans.

The ad is part of The Campaign to Reduce Drug Prices, a grassroots and communications campaign calling for comprehensive legislation to lower drug prices. The ad will run on digital platforms, focusing particularly on older Americans. Protect Our Care will continue to run ads and host events both nationally and in 13 key states, including New Jersey, throughout the summer.

“Dr. Shah’s story about patients forgoing essential medications is all too familiar in New Jersey and across the country,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “While drug companies are making record profits and raising the price of hundreds of drugs during the pandemic, millions of Americans are forced to choose between paying for the medicines they need to live or paying for food or rent. Americans should not have to pay two or three times more for their medicines than people in other countries. It’s time for New Jersey lawmakers to do the right thing and support giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices. The time to act is now.”

“As an emergency room doctor who specializes in addiction medicine, I meet patients on a regular basis who are experiencing difficulty paying for lifesaving medication,” said Dr. Shah. “One in four New Jerseyans report having to forgo filling a prescription because of skyrocketing costs. Patients shouldn’t be forced to ration medication or delay care because costs are too high. Prescription drug reform is long overdue, and I hope that our members of Congress will help New Jerseyans get the care they need and deserve.” 

Script for “Dr. Shah” (:30):

I’ll never forget the time I was treating a patient in the emergency room.

He said, “Doc, I’ve got heart disease and diabetes.

I’ve got to take medications for them both.

But I’ve only got enough money to take one of them.”

To me it was as clear an illustration of how broken prescription drug pricing in this country has become.

This is a problem that affects us all.

It doesn’t make sense for us to prioritize profits over people and most importantly my patients.

We really need Congress to act.

It’s time to let Medicare negotiate drug prices for all of us.

 Script for “Dr. Shah” (:15):

I was treating a patient in the emergency room.

He said, “Doc, I’ve got heart disease and diabetes.

I’ve got to take medication, but I’ve only got enough money to take one of them.”

We really need Congress to act.

It’s time to let Medicare negotiate drug prices for all of us. 

You can watch the press conference here, and learn more about how the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) will make prescription drugs more affordable here.

protectourcare
In News

TODAY: Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, Americans Who May Have Lost Their Job During the Pandemic Have More Pathways to Obtain Affordable Health Care

Washington, DC — Starting today, as part of the American Rescue Plan, the Biden administration is providing more options for Americans to obtain affordable health care. Americans who may have lost their job during the pandemic, and are approved to receive unemployment compensation for any week beginning in 2021, may be able to find even lower cost plans and additional savings on out-of-pocket expenses. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“This provision of the American Rescue Plan is just the latest example of President Biden steering our country onto the right path. Now Americans who have been impacted from job losses or underemployment during the pandemic will have an easier time getting the health care they need. President Biden has delivered on his promises in his short time in office. In addition to passing the American Rescue Plan, which lowers premiums and expands coverage to millions of Americans, the Biden administration rolled back the Trump administration’s sabotage of the ACA and opened a special enrollment period that has helped nearly one million Americans get covered. These critical policies are only the first steps in President Biden’s plan to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health care, rein in the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs, and address racial disparities in our health care system.”

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