(Concord, NH, Tuesday, December 4, 2018) – Congress did a good thing earlier this year when it passed a law to help America’s seniors pay less for their prescription drugs. But now, big drug companies are spending millions trying to strong-arm Members of Congress into breaking the deal just to boost their own profits.

This would be a terrible blow to seniors. Over 40 million older Americans rely on the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit to help them pay for life-saving medicines. Unfortunately, an increasing number of them are having to decide between putting food on the table or filling their prescriptions.

Consider this: AARP’s Public Policy Institute found that the average annual retail price for widely used brand name prescription drugs was nearly $6,800 in 2017. For the average older American who takes 4.5 brand name prescription drugs on a chronic basis, their annual cost of therapy would have been more than $30,000—over 20 percent higher than the median annual income for Medicare beneficiaries.

Todd Fahey, state director of AARP New Hampshire, explains the impact on seniors.

SOUNDBITE #1:

NO ONE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN FILLING A PRESCRIPTION AND FILLING THE FRIDGE OR PAYING RENT. AMERICANS PAY THE HIGHEST DRUG PRICES IN THE WORLD. THE LAST THING WE NEED IS TO PAY MORE. SO, WHEN SENATORS WHO THINK THEY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE PRESIDENT COME TO OUR COMMUNITY, THEY BETTER BE READY TO SHOW THAT THEY CAN STAND UP TO BIG DRUG COMPANIES.

SOUNDBITE #2:

THESE SAME BIG DRUG COMPANIES WHO REAP TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY FROM MEDICARE PART D ARE TRYING TO GET CONGRESS TO REVERSE THE SAVINGS IT DELIVERED TO SENIORS EARLIER THIS YEAR. THESE COMPANIES ARE SPENDING MILLIONS ON ADVERTISING AND LOBBYING TARGETING CONGRESS. IT’S JUST PLAIN WRONG.  CONGRESS NEEDS TO SAY NO TO BIG PHRMA AND NO TO PRICE GOUGING AMERICA’S SENIORS.

Tell your Senators it’s time to stand up to #PhRMA and protect Seniors. For more information visit action.aarp.org/rx.