AHIP launches ad campaign calling out Big Pharma on drug prices
Big Pharma spends millions attempting to deflect blame, limit competition, and undermine patients' bargaining power, AHIP says.
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AHIP has launched a new advertising campaign that it said calls out spending by Big Pharma to deflect blame for soaring drug prices.
Big Pharma spends millions attempting to deflect blame, limit competition, and undermine patients' bargaining power, AHIP said. Its advertising will blanket broadcast, social media and direct placements in targeted outlets in Washington, D.C.
WHY THIS MATTERS
AHIP, the national association for health insurers, is making the case that health plans are driven to make prescription drugs affordable.
Robert Traynham, executive vice president for public affairs and strategic initiatives at AHIP said, "Our new campaign spotlights the critical role health insurance providers play in making healthcare more affordable and accessible for Americans every day. And let's be clear, Big Pharma continues to deceive and divert attention from real solutions and the root cause of high drug prices – Pharma's anti-competitive, price-gouging tactics. Manufacturers keep prescription drug prices high and undermine the evidence-based, market-driven tools we use to lower prices and provide more choices in quality care for Americans."
THE LARGER TREND
The ad, blasting the pharmaceutical industry, is the latest in an ongoing war of words between AHIP and PhRMA, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, over who is responsible for high drug prices.
In November 2022, PhRMA released analysis that is said showed how insurers and middlemen are driving up out-of-pocket costs for patients at the pharmacy.
PhRMA has also been vocal against the Inflation Reduction Act's ability to give Medicare the ability, for the first time, to negotiate the price of drugs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in March released guidance for the Medicare drug pricing program.
"Despite the rhetoric we always hear, the administration's own report shows that prices for the vast majority of Part B medicines are not skyrocketing," PhRMA said in reaction to the Inflation Reduction Act. "Over 95% of Part B treatments were not impacted by the inflation penalty. Across the board, Part B medicines have consistently been less than 5% of overall government spending in Medicare, and spending on medicines continues to be eclipsed by spending on other hospital costs in the program. The administration continues to spin a false narrative to score political points, instead of addressing the real drivers of healthcare spending and the real challenges patients face affording their life-saving treatments."
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org
