While some parts of the Build Back Better framework may be historic, without meaningful prescription drug reform that enables the federal government to negotiate lower prices we cannot truly build back better as a nation. 

Big Pharma is fighting this reform for one reason and one reason only: to protect their sky-high profits and lavish CEO pay. Their army of lobbyists may have bought off enough politicians to win this vote, but they won’t have the final say. 

Today President Biden made it abundantly clear that lowering prescription drug prices is essential for our country to ‘Build Back Better.’ As Congress debates the reconciliation bill, we urge members to follow through on their promises with this once-in-a-generation opportunity to make prescription drugs more affordable and show they are on the side of patients.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Congress and President Biden to keep their promise to lower costs and improve healthcare for families and seniors. We can’t Build Back Better without affordable prescription medicines for everyone who needs them.

We applaud President Biden’s initiative in urging Congress to lower drug prices through Medicare negotiations, cost caps and accountability measures to stop drug corporations from raising prices faster than the rate of inflation.

On the anniversary of Medicare, Lower Drug Prices Now is joining Members of Congress, seniors, veterans, labor leaders, tribal leaders, faith leaders, patients and local organizers to hold 18 events across the country calling on the Senate to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices in the budget reconciliation bill currently being negotiated.

Delaying the Medicare rebate rule is a step in the right direction for patients struggling to afford their prescription medication. But preventing cost-shifting is not a substitute for real reforms that rein in drug corporations’ monopoly power to raise prices anytime they want.