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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPoll Shows Majority of Americans Support Government Negotiation of Drug Prices for People with Medic
This month, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released its latest Health Tracking Poll describing what Americans think about prescription drug costs. According to the poll, 72 percent of Americans think prescription drug costs are "unreasonable" and 74 percent feel that Americans pay more for the same drugs sold in other countries, including Canada, Mexico, and countries in Western Europe
To address the high cost of medications, 86 percent of respondents are in favor of requiring pharmaceutical companies to provide information on how they set drug prices. When asked whether they think the federal government should be allowed to negotiate with prescription drug manufacturers to secure lower prices on medications for people with Medicare, 84 percent said they were in favor of this policy.
Medicare Rights recently expressed support for two bills that would address high prescription drug cost in Medicare Part D. The Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2015 (S. 1884 & H.R. 3261) would create one or more Medicare-administered prescription drug plans and would also allow the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary) to negotiate Medicare prescription drug prices. The Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2015 (S. 31 & H.R. 3061) would also allow the HHS Secretary to negotiate prescription drug prices on behalf of beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part D.
http://kff.org/health-costs/poll-finding/kaiser-health-tracking-poll-august-2015/
http://www.medicarerights.org/support-ltr-s1884-hr3261
http://www.medicarerights.org/support-ltr-s31-hr3061.
PatrickforO
(14,516 posts)Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)It should be part of the process, not need to be legislated. Good lord, can't they use common sense? To hell with the pharmaceuticals. I'm paying $1200/mo. for one med. When I told my doctor, he said, "Where do they come up with these prices?" It's the same for the generic brands...maybe a bit lower.
DirkGently
(12,151 posts)It's insane we have permitted pharma companies to prevent price negotiation at all. Drug prices make no sense.