Slobodan: Regardless of Political Party, Americans Overwhelmingly Support Medicare Drug Price Negotiations

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As the pharmaceutical industry¹ ramps up efforts to fight the U.S. government’s historic Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, a new West Health-Gallup public opinion survey shows overwhelming bipartisan support for the program, which is forecast to save $100 billion in its first decade.As the pharmaceutical industry¹ ramps up efforts to fight the U.S. government’s historic Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, a new West Health-Gallup public opinion survey shows overwhelming bipartisan support for the program, which is forecast to save $100 billion in its first decade.

As the pharmaceutical industry1 ramps up efforts to fight the U.S. government’s historic Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, a new West Health-Gallup public opinion survey shows overwhelming bipartisan support for the program, which is forecast to save $100 billion in its first decade.As the pharmaceutical industry1 ramps up efforts to fight the U.S. government’s historic Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, a new West Health-Gallup public opinion survey shows overwhelming bipartisan support for the program, which is forecast to save $100 billion in its first decade.

As the pharmaceutical industry¹ ramps up efforts to fight the U.S. government’s historic Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, a new West Health-Gallup public opinion survey shows overwhelming bipartisan support for the program, which is forecast to save $100 billion in its first decade.

“No matter who they vote for, Americans are suffering from the high costs of prescription drugs,” says Tim Lash, president of West Health, a family of nonprofit organizations focused on reducing healthcare costs and improving quality of care. “The public’s overwhelming support for this policy, even as we head into a presidential election, makes one thing exceedingly clear: people know unfair, anticompetitive behavior when they see it and they want it to stop.”

Big Pharma’s high drug prices are 
killing us, fueling a public health and humanitarian crisis of its own.

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The new West Health-Gallup survey shows 83% of Americans favor price negotiations between Medicare and pharmaceutical companies, including 95% of Democrats, 76% of Independents and 75% of Republicans. Similar levels of support were consistent across age, race, gender, income levels and education.

Dramatic savings are expected from the program. The Congressional Budget Office estimates negotiations directly between Medicare and drug makers could reduce spending by $3.7 billion in its first year and save more than $100 billion over the next decade. But even more importantly, it could save lives. According to a report prepared by the research arm of drug distributor.

Amerisource Bergen for West Health, 112,000 seniors could die prematurely each year because drug prices and associated costs are so high that they can’t afford their medication.

“Big Pharma’s high drug prices are killing us, fueling a public health and humanitarian crisis of its own,” Lash says. “Giving Medicare the power to negotiate is an important step, but we can’t lose sight of the fact that more reforms are needed. Anti-competitive behavior in healthcare is a burden for 2everyone, regardless of their politics.”

Americans are facing significant challenges in affording necessary medications, leading to severe consequences, including loss of life. There is a strong belief that Medicare negotiation can lower drug prices, with substantial distrust in the pharmaceutical industry’s counterclaims. The public supports various tax penalties on drug companies to ensure more affordable prescription drug prices.

Key Findings

1. Financial Struggles with Medication

   • 1 in 4 Americans couldn’t pay for prescribed medication in the last year.

   • 38 million Americans have lost a family member or friend in the last 5 years due to unaffordable necessary medication.

2. Medicare Negotiation and Drug Prices

   • 75% of Americans believe that Medicare negotiation will lower drug prices and improve access.

   • 2/3 of Americans distrust the pharmaceutical industry’s claim that Medicare negotiation will reduce drug access.

   • Only 6% of Americans trust drug companies to ensure affordability, whereas 48% believe Medicare can make drugs affordable.