CSRXP POLL: MASSIVE MAJORITIES OF AMERICAN VOTERS SUPPORT SOLUTIONS TO LOWER DRUG PRICES AND HOLD BIG PHARMA ACCOUNTABLE

Americans Blame Big Pharma for Out-of-Control Drug Prices, Reject Bogus Innovation Rhetoric And Say Lack of Action in Congress Would Impact Vote in Next Election

Washington, D.C. – The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing (CSRxP) released the results of a national survey conducted by Morning Consult Tuesday.

“The American people, including the more than one in four voters who personally experienced financial hardship affording a prescription in the last twelve months, are counting on Congress to address out-of-control drug prices,” said CSRxP executive director Lauren Aronson. “Voters overwhelmingly support urgent action to lower drug prices and hold Big Pharma accountable, reject the pharmaceutical industry’s bogus innovation rhetoric and say a lack of action would impact their vote in the next election.”

“More than three-quarters of voters support solutions to cap out-of-pocket costs for seniors, keep price hikes below the rate of inflation and discourage price-gouging by giving Big Pharma significant skin-in-the-game,” Aronson added. “Congress must act on the unprecedented momentum for action and overwhelming support from the American people by swiftly passing solutions to lower drug prices and hold Big Pharma accountable into law.”

The survey of 2,200 registered voters was commissioned by CSRxP and conducted by Morning Consult from August 31-September 3, 2021. Key takeaways include:

Americans Face Serious Financial Challenges as a Result of Out-of-Control Drug Prices

• 26 Percent: More than one in four American voters said they or a family member had financial difficulty affording a prescribed medication in the last 12 months.

• Four in Five: Nearly four in five American voters (79 percent) say it is important for lawmakers to pass prescription drug pricing reform before the end of the year.
• 71 Percent: 71 percent of voters say failure to pass drug pricing solutions before the end of the year would have an impact on their vote in the next election, with nearly half of voters saying it would have a “significant impact.”

• 85 Percent: 85 percent of voters say pharmaceutical companies are to blame for rising prescription drug prices, including nearly two-thirds of voters who say pharmaceutical companies are “very responsible.”
• 65 to 14: When asked which statement they agree with more:
  • 65 percent of voters select: “Some lawmakers say prescription drug prices are out-of-control and Congress must act now to lower prices, provide relief for struggling American patients and taxpayers and hold big pharmaceutical companies accountable for their price-hiking and anti-competitive practices.”
  • Compared with just 14 percent who select: “Some lawmakers say solutions to lower drug prices would amount to a tax on pharmaceutical companies that threatens to reduce investments into potentially life-saving innovations.”
• 84 Percent: 84 percent of voters support solutions to lower drug prices by holding pharmaceutical companies accountable.

• >Three in Four: More than three-quarters of voters support a redesign of the Medicare Part D program to deliver relief for seniors, keep price hikes below the rate of inflation and discourage price-gouging by giving Big Pharma significant skin-in-the-game in the catastrophic phase of coverage.
  • More than half of voters “strongly support” all three solutions. Fewer than ten percent of voters oppose any of the three.
    • 78 percent support capping out-of-pocket costs for seniors, including 55 percent who “strongly support.”
    • 76 percent support keeping pharmaceutical companies’ price increases below the rate of inflation, including 50 percent who “strongly support.”81 percent support ensuring pharmaceutical companies pay their fair share by being given significant cost-sharing liability in the catastrophic phase of coverage, including 58 percent who “strongly support.”

• 80 and 73 Percent: In addition, 80 percent of voters support solutions to help lower drug prices by increasing transparency and 73 percent support solutions to help lower drug prices by increasing competition.

See Morning Consult’s summary of the CSRxP survey findings HERE.

Read more on market-based solutions to lower drug prices and hold Big Pharma accountable HERE.

About CSRxP: The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing is a broad-based coalition of physicians, nurses, hospitals, consumers, health plans, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacists, and businesses promoting bipartisan, market-based solutions to lower drug prices in America. Learn more: www.csrxp.org.