AHF Endorses Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Bills by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

In Advocacy by K Pak

Largest global AIDS organization thanks Congressman Doggett and the House bill’s 103 co-sponsors and Senator Sherrod Brown and his Senate bill’s co-sponsors for identical and parallel legislation seen as a crucial steps to rein in greedy pharmaceutical companies and runaway pricing policies.

WASHINGTON (February 7, 2019) AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) enthusiastically endorsesthe Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act, two identical bills introduced today in the House of Representatives byCongressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and at least 103 co-sponsors, and in United States Senate by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH). The parallel bills would achieve lower prescription drug prices for Medicare Part D through direct government negotiation with drug manufacturers.

“In 2017, Medicare Part D spent $100 billion on prescription drugs.  (See: $100 billion in prescription drug spending under Medicare Part D in 2017.) With that much money to spend, the government should be required to negotiate for the best price,” said Michael Weinstein, president of AHF.  “This legislation will help lower the price of prescription drugs for everyone.”

Thanks to the corrupt lobbying by greedy drug companies, the government’s hands have been tied when it comes to negotiating fair and reasonable prices for drugs purchased through the Medicare program. This bill will finally free up the government to ensure that prescription drug prices for our seniors are reasonable and affordable under Medicare Part D. By including a fallback to negotiations of competitive licensing when pharmaceutical companies fail to offer an appropriate price, seniors will be protected from unfair prices, and no one’s access to medicine is put at risk.

 Hashtag: #EndRxMonopolyPrices

NOTE: AHF is available for further comment on the Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Acts.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over one million people in 43 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

WASHINGTON

John Hassell, National Director of Advocacy, AHF                                      

+1.202.774.4854 [cell]  [email protected]

LOS ANGELES

Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications, AHF                                      

+1.323.791.5526 [cell] +1.323.308.1833 [work] [email protected]

ATLANTA

Imara Canady, Regional Director, Communications & Community Engagement for AHF

[email protected] – 954.952.0258 mobile

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