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Recent Polling Confirms Drug Pricing Remains Voters’ Top Concern As Congress Finalizes the Build Back Better Act

Yesterday, Democrats announced a framework for the Build Back Better Act. While the historic agreement will dramatically lower health costs and expand care, it is missing a key plan: giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. As Big Pharma and their allies in Congress continue to fight against reform, Democratic leaders are working to ensure meaningful Medicare negotiation is included in the Build Back Better Act. Poll after poll shows that the #1 element of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda is Medicare negotiation. Failure to include negotiation in Build Back Better means maintaining the broken system that lets drug companies dictate outrageous prices while millions of Americans struggle to afford their medications. 

Giving Medicare the full power to negotiate for lower prices is not just the right thing to do — it’s the smart thing to do. Democrats ran and won on health care in 2018 and 2020. It’s plain and simple: This is not the time to cower to Big Pharma’s demands — Medicare negotiation must remain in the final Build Back Better Act to lower drug prices for all Americans.

RECENT POLLING

Navigator Poll Finds Medicare Price Negotiation As The Best Reason Among Voters To Support Build Back Better. “Independents and economically persuadable Americans say giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices [is] the best reason to pass the plan.” [Navigator, 10/15/21]

Kaiser Family Foundation Poll Finds Strong Support For Negotiation Across Political Spectrum. “Of those in support: “83% total, 95% of Democrats, 82% of independents, and 71% of Republicans.” [Kaiser Family Foundation, 10/12/21]

• Americans Favor Arguments For Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Than Those Made Against It. “One-third of the public say the argument from those opposed to drug price negotiations is convincing compared to a large majority (84%) who say they found the argument from those in favor convincing.” [Kaiser Family Foundation, 10/12/21]

CBS Poll Finds Overwhelming Support For Build Back Better Health Provisions, With Drug Price Negotiations At The Top. “88 percent of respondents support federal drug price negotiations, with 84 percent in support of expanding Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing coverage.” [CBS, 10/10/21]

Build Back Together Survey Across 48 Battleground Congressional Districts Finds Allowing Medicare To Negotiate Drug Prices Is The Most Popular Component Of The Build Back Better Plan. “Allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices was the most popular of the 16 components of the Build Back Better plan tested. Over two-thirds of battleground district voters (71%) say this component makes them more likely to support the reconciliation plan. It is especially popular with seniors, but also the most popular component among both independents and those voters who are persuadable on the reconciliation plan.” [ALG Research, 9/29/21]

Hart Research Poll Finds Hart Medicare Negotiation Was The Most Important Element In Driving Support For The Build Back Better Package. “When making the case for the Build Back Better Act, it’s significantly strengthened by including health care. Support for the investments in critical priorities in the act is strong (74-26%) but is significantly stronger (80-20%) when the description includes that the plan reduces health care costs and the price of prescription drugs.” [Hart Research, 9/13/21] 

NAVIGATOR Polls Finds Economically Persuadable Americans Want Prescription Drug Negotiation. “86 percent of respondents support reducing the cost of prescription drugs by giving Medicare the power to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower prices, with 69 percent of Democrats, 49 of independents, 50 percent of Republicans, and 63 percent of economically persuadable Americans strongly supporting the measure.” [NAVIGATOR, 9/8/21]

Closing the Coverage Gap Is A Result of Tireless Advocacy by Majority Whip Clyburn (D-SC-06) and Senators Warnock (D-GA), Baldwin (D-WI) and Ossoff (D-GA)

Washington, D.C. — Today, Democrats secured a provision to close the Medicaid coverage gap as part of the Build Back Better Act framework. Closing the Medicaid coverage gap will finally extend health insurance to over four million people in the 12 states that have rejected Medicaid expansion and address deep racial inequities in our health care system. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse released the following statement:

“This historic expansion of health insurance coverage will finally ensure that Americans in states like Georgia, South Carolina, and Wisconsin will be able to access affordable, quality care. Because of Republicans’ partisan war on health care, millions of people have been left uninsured in 12 states — it’s just not right. Thanks to the hard work of Majority Whip James E. Clyburn and Senators Rev. Raphael Warnock, Tammy Baldwin, Jon Ossoff, as well as President Biden and the Democratic leadership, the promise of Medicaid expansion in every state is finally a reality. Medicaid is a lifeline; it reduces racial disparities in health care, creates healthier communities and strengthens economies. The health care measures in Build Back Better will lower costs and improve and expand access to lifesaving care.”

U.S. Reps. Wild and Davids Underscored the Importance of Delivering Lower Drug Prices in the Build Back Better Act

Watch the Full Event Here. 

Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Representatives Susan Wild (D-PA-07) and Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) joined Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference to call on their colleagues in Congress to deliver lower drug prices by giving Medicare the full power to negotiate. As lawmakers work to finalize budget legislation, press reports have indicated that Big Pharma has tightened its grip on its allies in Congress — potentially threatening prescription drug pricing reform altogether. During the call, Reps. Wild and Davids made clear that Medicare negotiation is among the most important provisions in the entire Build Back Better Act, and the measure cannot be watered down if Congress wants to meaningfully lower prescription drug prices for patients. 

Reps. Wild and Davids are leading the charge for lower drug prices for all Americans. In July, Rep. Wild led a letter from frontline House Democrats including Rep. Sharice Davids to Democratic leadership urging them to include Medicare negotiation power in the upcoming reconciliation bill. Rep. Davids recently wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post with other frontline Democrats arguing that Congress must stand up to drug companies and ensure that patients come first by giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices.

“No American should be forced into a possible choice between life-saving medicine or food on the table, and it’s unconscionable that pharmaceutical companies are still able to charge Americans several times more than what they charge for the same drugs in other countries – all while still recording massive profits,” said U.S. Representative Susan Wild. “I still firmly believe we must include drug pricing reform in the Build Back Better Act, not only because it would help pay for the bill, but because it’s what an overwhelming, bipartisan majority of the American people are demanding from Congress. We cannot let this once-in-a-generation opportunity pass us by.”   

“We have a solution. Medicare negotiations would help save our government and private businesses billions of dollars and reduce premiums, prescription drug prices, and overall health care costs for everyone,” said U.S. Representative Sharice Davids. “We are in the 11th hour to make a difference in people’s lives, and we must demonstrate that we are here in service of our communities and constituents and not in service of pharmaceutical companies.” 

“The so-called alternatives to Medicare negotiation being pushed by pro-Pharma members would maintain the status quo where drug companies can dictate whatever price they want while Americans pay three times more for drugs as people in other countries,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “Giving Medicare the full power to negotiate for lower prices is not just the right thing to do — it’s the smart thing to do. Democrats ran and won on health care in 2020, and frontline members understand that if we do nothing to meaningfully lower drug prices for patients, the Democratic majority is at stake. It’s plain and simple: this is not the time for capitulation to drug companies. Congress must act now to give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices for all Americans.”

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 27 AT 1:00 PM ET // 12:00 PM CT***

As Congress Finalizes Budget Legislation, U.S. Reps. Wild and Davids Will Demonstrate the Importance of Delivering Lower Drug Prices for the American People

Washington, DC — Today, October 27 at 1:00 PM ET // 12:00 PM CT, U.S. Representatives Susan Wild (D-PA-07) and Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) will join Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference to call on their colleagues in Congress to deliver lower costs and better care to Americans by passing all of President Biden’s health care priorities in the Build Back Better budget package, including allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Rep. Wild led a letter from frontline House Democrats including Rep. Sharice Davids to Democratic leadership urging them to include Medicare negotiation power in the upcoming reconciliation bill. Rep. Davids wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post with other frontline Democrats arguing that Congress must stand up to drug companies and ensure that patients come first by giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices.

Congress is closing in on a budget agreement that will transform the lives of American families nationwide. President Biden and Democrats are leading the charge to include Medicare negotiation and other key health care priorities in the Build Back Better package, but the fight is not over: Big Pharma has ramped up its lobbying and scare tactics to protect its profits and lie to the American people. This event will make clear that this is not the time for half measures; Congress must give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices for all Americans. 

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
U.S. Representative Susan Wild (D-PA-07)
U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03)
Brad Woodhouse, Executive Director of Protect Our Care

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference to Call for Medicare Negotiation to Remain in Build Back Better Act

WHERE: Register for the Event Here

WHEN: Wednesday, October 28 at 1:00 PM ET // 12:00 PM CT

Lawmakers & Advocates Demand Action to Give Medicare the Full Power to Negotiate & Lower Drug Prices Now 

As President Biden and patient advocates are fighting tirelessly to give Medicare the power to lower prescription drug prices in the Build Back Better Act, press reports have indicated that Big Pharma has tightened its grip on its allies in Congress — potentially threatening prescription drug pricing reform altogether. The reports indicate that pro-Pharma members are actually trying to prohibit negotiations for the drugs that cost the most for people – brand name drugs, those still on patent, and those that already have no competition. 

This would maintain the status quo where drug companies can dictate whatever price they want and Americans pay three times more for the same drug as people in other countries. Patient groups and Democratic lawmakers from across the political spectrum firmly agree: this is not the time for capitulation to drug companies. Congress must act now to give Medicare real power to negotiate for lower drug prices for all Americans. 

Representative Peter Welch (D-VT-AL): “It’s Outrageous And It’s Unjustifiable And It Would Be Political Malpractice For Congress To Do Nothing.”  “Average prescription drug prices in the US are far higher than anywhere else in the world, and we must take action to protect our citizens from the constant price gouging. This is a source of enormous anxiety for folks who need these drugs for themselves or the ones they love. It’s outrageous and it’s unjustifiable and it would be political malpractice for Congress to do nothing. By saving money — simply by stopping this ongoing pharma rip off — we can help Americans afford lifesaving drugs, whether they voted for Trump or voted for Biden.” [Protect Our Care Press Call, 10/25/21] 

• Rep. Welch: Alternative Proposals “Will Leave Us At The Mercy Of Monopoly Pricing Power.” “Lawmakers are now weighing only negotiating the drug costs after their period of exclusivity has expired, which would exclude many of the costliest drugs and incentivize pharmaceutical companies to extend their patents as long as possible. The costs would be pegged to those paid by VA instead of the international reference pricing scheme of H.R. 3 (117). ‘There isn’t negotiation where it matters. It will leave us at the mercy of monopoly pricing power,’ Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) lamented on a call with reporters Monday. ‘It just breaks the back of the whole concept.’” [Politico, 10/26/21] 

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN): “Limiting Negotiations to Off-Patent Drugs Is Exactly What Pharma Wants.” [@amyklobuchar, 10/22/21] 

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR): Without Negotiation, “Pharmaceutical Companies Will Continue Hiking Drug Prices Much Faster Than Wages Grow For Typical Americans.” “​​America is at a crossroads when it comes to paying for prescription drugs. Down one path, pharmaceutical companies will continue hiking drug prices much faster than wages grow for typical Americans. They’ll continue launching headline-grabbing drugs at outrageous list prices, even when there are questions about whether those drugs truly work. In this scenario, the result of drug companies’ unchecked power could be that many more Americans will borrow for life-saving treatments the way they borrow for homes and educations.” [Boston Globe, 10/25/21]

Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT): “As Long As The Greed Of The Pharmaceutical Industry Continues To Go Unchecked, They Can Charge You, The American People, Whatever Price They Want!” [@BernieSanders, 10/25/21] 

Representative Jared Golden (D-ME-02): “One Of The Strongest And Most Effective Provisions In The Bill — Prescription Drug Reform — Is Under Threat. It Must Be Saved.” “But amid all the push and pull, one of the strongest and most effective provisions in the bill — prescription drug reform — is under threat. It must be saved. The impact of this provision on Mainers, particularly Maine seniors, would make a difference in hundreds of thousands of lives in our state.” [Jared Golden Medium, 10/24/21] 

AARP & Patients for Affordable Drugs: “This Is Not A Moment To Equivocate, Delay, Or Dilute The Foundational Elements Of Effective Reform.” “This is not a moment to equivocate, delay, or dilute the foundational elements of effective reform. This is the moment to enact legislation that will help millions of Americans who are forgoing drugs they have been prescribed but cannot afford, rationing, and choosing between paying rent or paying for prescriptions they need.” [AARP & Patients for Affordable Drugs, 10/21/21] 

Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs at AARP: “Letting Medicare negotiate is the BEST and most effective policy to lower prices and save Medicare money.” [@BillSweeneyDC, 10/26/21]

Geoff Gain, President of Hart Research: “Support For Medicare Negotiations Is Nearly Universal, And Establishing A System To Lower Drug Prices Is A Top Priority For Voters.” “As we head into the final days of debate, we must understand that there is overwhelming consensus in this country that the amount pharmaceutical companies charge for prescription drugs is unreasonable. Support for Medicare negotiations is nearly universal, and establishing a system to lower drug prices is a top priority for voters. Even in the face of the strongest opposition from pharmaceutical companies, voters continue to support lowering prescription drug prices through Medicare negotiations.” [Protect Our Care Press Call, 10/25/21]