Seniors Need Lower Pill Prescriptions Costs

Here’s the letter we are sending to the lawmakers who did not sponsor our bill:

I am writing to you to share my deep concerns about the Biden administration’s pill penalty created by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This detrimental policy imposes price controls onsmall-molecule drugs after just nine years, compared to thirteen years for biologics. As a result, fewer treatments and cures will be available, and the ones that are available will be more likely to be injections rather than pills.

This is deeply concerning, as small-molecule drugs are some of the most widely used and effective drugs for medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.Older Americans deserve access to the best lifesaving treatments at an affordable cost, and this reckless provision stands in the way by punishing the development of new pills.A recent poll from McLaughlin and Associates found that 86% of senior voters are concerned that the Biden pill penalty will lead to less investment in American research and development of cutting-edge small-molecule therapies that can prevent, treat, and cure chronic diseases and serious medical conditions.

Thankfully, there is bipartisan momentum in Congress behind the Ensuring Pathways toInnovative Cures (EPIC) Act, which would grant small-molecule medicines the same year protection from government price controls that other medicines receive.

This reform is widely supported by seniors, with 82% believing it is crucial to fix the Biden pill penalty.On behalf of older Americans, thank you for consistently fighting to protect Medicare and for championing the EPIC Act to eliminate the Biden pill penalty. I encourage you to also include the EPIC Act in reconciliation to protect the future of innovative cures for seniors.

Thank you for your time and consideration.