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The New Year offers the opportunity for a renewed effort to raise awareness and increase engagement on the importance of access to safe and affordable medications, and we need your participation now more than ever.
The Congress has targeted the high price of drugs as a priority based on feedback from constituents that demand action now. A series of hearings in 2017 sparked discussions on possible solutions, and one Committee Member in particular – Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) – asked Health and Human Services Secretary-Nominee Alex Azar for a plan for how to make drug importation safe and implement a program, otherwise Senator Paul stated that he could not support his nomination as HHS Secretary.
In this newsletter, we recap these Congressional hearings on the high price of drugs and we will continue to keep you up-to-date on these discussions. Read on!
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- Sign up to receive CPPI communications HERE
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- Share your story to help raise awareness on the real impact of high drug prices HERE
- Let Congress know how this issue impacts you and urge elected officials to take action HERE
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In the News:
#BigPharma Gearing Up for a Big Win
January 9, 2018
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary-Nominee Alex Azar's Confirmation Hearing was yet another slap in the face for America's patients who need access to safe and affordable prescription medications.
Numerous Senators raised red flags around Azar's actions during his tenure at Eli Lilly & Company, which includes dramatically increasing the prices for several medications that resulted in huge profits for the company.
When Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) repeatedly asked if Azar had ever lowered the price of a drug while working for #BigPharma, he refused to answer the question.
Repeatedly throughout the hearing, Azar pointed to the insurance industry and Pharmacy Benefit Managers as the true cause of the problem of high drug prices, which shows his true colors. He is still fighting on behalf of industry despite the fact that he is being considered for the most important leadership role within public health.
Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) questioned Azar about spending on advertising compared to spending on research and development while at Eli Lilly & Company, and Azar conveniently forgot what the company was spending on advertising, yet with absolute certainty he remembered that they spent $5-billion on R&D. We think that's highly suspicious and again suggests that Azar will be working on behalf of #BigPharma if confirmed to lead HHS.
While this is a critical discussion for the future of public health, there is nothing new here and the public and others have demanded change. The more things change, themore they stay the same apparently.
The full hearing can be accessed here
Senate Hearing on the High Cost of Drugs, Part III
December 13, 2017
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing to discusssuggestions for lowering the high cost of drugs raised in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Report “Making Medicines Affordable: A National Imperative.”
At the hearing, numerous Senators expressed their continuing frustration with skyrocketing drug costs for no legitimate reason. Several experts shared perspective and suggestions, including a patient who struggles with an incurable disease for which his medications costs more than $450,000 each year.
David Mitchell, President and Founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs, hears stories from many other people who struggle to pay the exorbitantly high cost of medications. We share his belief that these stories are the most powerful and compelling arguments that are important not to overlook as we debate these important issues.
We encourage you to visit our testimonials page and share your story so that we can promote these stories to decision makers and experts engaged in the debate. Please visit this link and share your story
The full video of the hearing can be viewed here:
HHS Secretary Nominee Shows His True Colors
November 30, 2017
(Note: While the purpose of this hearing was on the nomination of Alex Azar for HHS Secretary, the topic of the high price of drugs was the main focus of the session.)
The Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on the nomination of Alex Azar to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, which oversees the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Azar is the current poster child for #BadPharma behavior, leveraging the revolving door between government and the corporate world to serve his best interests and game the system, which he repeatedly cited as the problem although his track record of taking advantage of a broken system is clear. The panel of Senators cited a long list of atrocities from raising prices while at a major pharmaceutical company to numerous examples of decision-making in the best interests of #BigPharma as opposed to patients.
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) cut to the chase by highlighting importation as a solution to the challenge of high drug prices, calling out the false claims of safety issues stating that they are ‘frankly, not true’ but rather the real issue is that ‘Big Pharma is manipulating the system to keep profits high.’
Senator Paul went further by quoting the President during the hearing, “Allowing consumers access to imported safe and dependable drugs from overseas will bring more options to consumers.”
He asked Azar to propose a plan for ensuring safety through importation and steps to implement or else, consequently, he would not be able to support Azar’s nomination.
Although other senators raised importation, including Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) andSen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Azar avoided direct questioning on the topic. Yet it was not the only issue that he refused to comment on after being repeatedly asked questions related to the role and responsibility #BigPharma in the high pricing of medications. Rather, he reverted to the all-too-familiar #BigPharma playbook of blaming others or generally pointing to a broken system.
While it is true that the system is broken, there will be no relief for consumers until #BigPharma takes responsibility for its role in fracturing the system and manipulating the government and consumers to ensure that the system remains broken and profits are maximized.
It is clear from the hearing that a new leader has emerged to ensure that prices stay high and #BigPharma profits are protected. Move over, pharma bro – there is a new sheriff in town.
By most accounts, Azar’s confirmation for HHS Secretary is a foregone conclusion. Outlook is not good for American consumers who struggle to access safe and affordable prescription medications. The revolving door continues to revolve.
The full hearing can be accessed HERE.
Senate Hearing on the High Cost of Drugs, Part II
October 17, 2017
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee recently held a hearing to discuss the high cost of drugs, which is the second in a series of three hearings on this topic.
Long story short, the Senate brought together all the bad actors together to finger point and blame each other for high drug prices, while the reality is that they all contribute to the problem. The system is broken. The Senate chastised the witnesses throughout the hearing, yet no real solutions emerged that offered hope to American consumers that any reasonable end to the madness is in sight.
Indeed, nearly all the solutions that Senators raised were quickly shut down by witnesses, when the underlying message was clear – they’re getting away with it because they can, there are no mechanisms to stop them.
We share the frustration, after years of debate on this issue we don’t seem to be any closer to a solution. Indeed, accessing safe and affordable prescription medications has gotten even more complex. Yet the reality is clear – they are getting away with it because there is nothing stopping them. Something must be done, but until then, we won’t stop fighting.
Watch the full hearing here:
Senate Hearing on High Cost of Prescription Drugs, Part i
June 13, 2017
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on the high cost of prescription drugs, which is the first in a series of three hearings on this topic.
The underlying theme of the hearing was the lack of debate and closed door secrecy around the impending vote on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, which would affect insurance coverage for millions of Americans.
Senators from both parties expressed support for personal prescription importation – Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) emphasized the challenges of rural America in accessing affordable and safe prescription medications and cited importation as a solution to the problem. In his closing remarks, Senator Al Franken (D-MN) highlighted importation first among his proposed solutions for addressing the high cost of prescription medications.
Harsh words were used throughout the hearing todescribe the dubious practices of #BigPharma to inhibit competition, unfairly protect their patents and influence Congressional leaders to maintain and increase their profits at the expense of the lives and well-being of millions of Americans.
As Senator Sanders (I-VT) stated, “We pay the highest prices in the world, this is not a complicated issue – if you want to know what’s going on, just follow the money. Big Pharma lobbyists own a good portion of Congress. The real question is whether or not Congress will stand up to Big Pharma.”
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) emphasized that this is a ‘pivotal and deeply concerning moment’ in the future of our health care system. She also pointed out that the work of members of Congress is strongest when patients and their families share their stories and make their voices heard, which is why we need you to come forward. Please share your story here:
More information on the hearing can be found here:
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Pleasetake a moment to reach out to your elected officialto make sure that they do not lose sight of protecting the rights of all Americans to access safe and affordable prescription medication by visiting our Contact Congress page at
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Take Action – We would love to hear from you!
We are currently looking for personal stories to highlight the need for access to affordable and safe prescription medications to policy makers and thought leaders who can make a difference.
Please share your story by visiting this link.
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About the Campaign for Personal Prescription Importation
The Campaign for Personal Prescription Importation (CPPI) is a national nonprofit patient advocacy organization that fights for Americans’ access to safe, affordable prescription medications from Canada for personal use. Tens of millions of Americans – especially the elderly and others on fixed incomes – struggle to pay the extremely high price of prescription medications in the U.S. We are here to be their voice.
Millions of Americans use licensed Canadian pharmacies annually, to purchase their daily prescription medications at an affordable price. We believe thatall Americans have arightto affordable medications. It is time to change the current U.S. policy on this issue to provide immediate access to life-saving medications, taken daily for chronic health conditions, at affordable prices.
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Campaign for Personal Prescription Importation
1220 L Street NW
Suite 100
Washington, DC 20005
202-765-3290