Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Skyrocketing Cost Of Prescription Drugs Is A Top Health Concern For Americans, Survey Shows
Politico: Drug Costs Dislodge Obamacare As GOP Voters' Top Health Care Concern
Scott Walker, Marco Rubio and others are competing for the best plan to replace Obamacare, a unified theme among Republican presidential contenders. But there is growing evidence that even GOP voters are more concerned about curbing drug prices than dislodging the president’s signature health program. In April, the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation was surprised by a poll showing more Republicans view drug prices as the No. 1 health care priority than repealing Obamacare. So the foundation looked further, asking Americans what steps they would back to reduce drug costs. (Norman, 8/20)
The Associated Press: Poll: Majority Of US Wants Gov't To Curb Prescription Costs
Regardless of political affiliation, Americans strongly support government action to control prescription drug costs, according to a poll released Thursday. While the 2016 presidential candidates continue to debate President Barack Obama's 5-year-old law expanding coverage for the uninsured, the latest Kaiser Family Foundation survey suggests the public is shifting to other health care issues. (8/20)
Kaiser Health News: Poll: Americans Favor Government Action On Drug Prices
Just over half of Americans (54 percent) are currently taking a prescription drug. While most say their drugs are easy to afford, consumers in general (72 percent) believe drug costs are unreasonable, according to the poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent part of the foundation.) More people (51 percent) think competition would do a better job of controlling prices than federal regulation (40 percent). But large majorities said they would favor allowing Medicare to negotiate with companies on prices and allowing people to buy medicines imported from Canada. (8/20)
