Statement from Margarida Jorge, campaign director for Lower Drug Prices Now, on President Biden’s remarks about lowering prescription drug prices: 

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. These reforms will benefit seniors, families, employers and the thousands of COVID long-haulers now facing chronic conditions who have already waited too long for action on drug reform. Patients cannot afford to wait anymore: people of all ages and incomes need affordable access to prescription drugs today.

Comprehensive reform is so overwhelmingly popular because Americans across the political spectrum are tired of being priced out of the medicines they need to survive. No one should have to ration medications in a country as rich as our own. The half a trillion dollars in savings that would result from giving Medicare more negotiating power could be used to expand our nation’s healthcare infrastructure and ensure that every person has access to the care they need.

Ending the pharmaceutical industry’s monopoly control over drug pricing is long overdue. The American people expect the Biden Administration and Democrats in Congress to live up to their promise to ‘Build Back Better’ and get drug pricing reform done.