Perspectives: If Drug-Pricing Reform Fails, Democrats Will Have Bigger Woes

Newsweek: Democrats Are On The Verge Of Blowing Their Drug Pricing Promise 
As Democrats in the House, Senate and White House negotiate the final contents of their Build Back Better plan, they're on the verge of blowing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lower drug prices for families. And with it, their 2022 election prospects. Democrats across the country have campaigned on lowering the cost of prescription drugs for more than a decade. With good reason—Americans pay more for our prescription drugs than every other country in the world. And these high prices have had real, and sometimes deadly, consequences for too many people. (Caroline Behringer, 9/24)

Lacrosse Tribune: Congress Must Act Now To Lower Prescription Costs 
As an HIV-positive gay man who relies on healthcare and medications in order to survive, I’m excited about the prospect of Congress finally passing legislation that would lower drug prices. This legislation would require drug manufacturers to negotiate lower prices with Medicare and extend those lower prices to people with all types of insurance. This legislation — the Lower Drug Prices Now Act provisions in Build Back Better — would help lower drug costs for all of us. (Ben Wilson, 9/26)

The Washington Post: Let Medicare Negotiate Drug Prices
We represent a geographically diverse share of the American people — but in each of our districts, we hear a collective concern. The high cost of prescription drugs is hurting families — and it is long past time to bring those prices down. Pharmacists in our districts are telling us that they are seeing more patients walk away from the counter without their medication. They tell us they are hearing from families who say they have no choice but to ration insulin. And they report speaking with seniors who have considered traveling to Canada or Mexico to find cheaper options. (Reps. Colin Allred, Cindy Axne, Sharice Davids, Andy Kim and Abigail Spanberger, 9/23)

Reno Gazette Journal: Nevadans Of All Ages Need Lower Drug Prices
As a senior, I’m excited about the prospect of Congress finally passing legislation that would lower drug prices by requiring drug corporations to negotiate lower prices with Medicare. Like many other people my age, I struggle to afford prescriptions which seem to go up in prices year after year with no end in sight. My wife and I both need prescription drugs and it can become very expensive. My wife has medical conditions that make it hard for us to afford our prescriptions, and sometimes it can be hard to keep up with bill payments. Living on a fixed income, I worry constantly that I will not be able to afford the basic medicines I need to stay healthy enough to enjoy the years I have left with my friends and family. Living in a rural area, and being the sole breadwinner for my family, makes it even harder. (Damian Vicente, 9/27)

Times Of San Diego: Seniors Need Lower Drug Prices Now, And H.R. 3 Won't Stop Innovation
Here’s a simple fact: Many Californians are struggling to pay for their prescription drugs. This can mean going without their needed medicines, cutting pills in half, and even having to make the excruciating choice between paying rent or utility bills, buying food, and paying for life-saving prescriptions, whose prices continue to skyrocket. What’s worse, a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that nearly half of those in fair or poor health find it difficult to afford their medications. These are the very patients who need these medications most.  (Joe Garbanzos, 9/24)