AARP had this message waiting in my email this morning.
"Advocacy Alert
Calling all Georgia activists: do you know where your senators stand on Rx prices? If you’re getting this message, it’s because Senator Warnock has indicated he supports the AARP-endorsed proposal that lowers the cost of prescription drugs through Medicare negotiation. It’s time to let them know you’re paying attention, and they need to get the job done.
Every single day this month, we're harnessing the power of this huge community to create a constant drumbeat of actions to our senators — and today it's your turn to take part.
Calling all Georgia activists: do you know where your senators stand on Rx prices? If you’re getting this message, it’s because Senator Warnock has indicated he supports the AARP-endorsed proposal that lowers the cost of prescription drugs through Medicare negotiation. It’s time to let them know you’re paying attention, and they need to get the job done.
Every single day this month, we're harnessing the power of this huge community to create a constant drumbeat of actions to our senators — and today it's your turn to take part.
Our goal is to make sure senators don't go a day without hearing our demands for action and we’ve found that sharing personal stories is especially powerful.
You’ve taken action before, but we need to keep steady pressure on Congress — Send a customized email to your senators asking them to help lower prescription drug prices.
You’ve taken action before, but we need to keep steady pressure on Congress — Send a customized email to your senators asking them to help lower prescription drug prices.
Act NOW >>
Faustina's turn to act >>
Faustina's turn to act >>
Americans pay 3x as much as people in other countries for the same medications. And now, many people are struggling to afford rising costs at the gas pump and grocery store. Since lower drug prices help combat inflation, it’s never been more urgent for Congress to act.
We need our senators to know that people 50+ are paying attention to their actions to lower prescription drug prices — every. single. day.
It’s your turn: Please, take a few minutes to tell your senator how important lowering Rx prices is to you. Every personal email makes a HUGE impact — send your email now.
Thank you,
The team at AARP Grassroots Advocacy"
We need our senators to know that people 50+ are paying attention to their actions to lower prescription drug prices — every. single. day.
It’s your turn: Please, take a few minutes to tell your senator how important lowering Rx prices is to you. Every personal email makes a HUGE impact — send your email now.
Thank you,
The team at AARP Grassroots Advocacy"
Of course I responded!
And here's the message I wrote.
"Every day, someone needs insulin to survive.
Every day, someone needs blood pressure medications to survive.
Every day, someone needs a prescription medicine because their body is not able to produce a needed chemical molecule.
No one should have to choose between the medicine they need and a roof over their head or food on their table.
Please, make prescription drugs more affordable by lowering their prices."
Every day, someone needs blood pressure medications to survive.
Every day, someone needs a prescription medicine because their body is not able to produce a needed chemical molecule.
No one should have to choose between the medicine they need and a roof over their head or food on their table.
Please, make prescription drugs more affordable by lowering their prices."
Now, it's up to Congress to make the change.
I hope the politicians remember that elections are around the corner.
3 comments:
Well, whaddaya know!
The people have spoken and the Senate has listened!
Now, to keep it up until the House of Representatives does the same!
The power of voices in an election year!
(smile!)
Here's the good news!
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7 August 2022
"Faustina, this is one of our biggest wins to date: the Senate just voted to pass a historic bill that allows Medicare to negotiate Rx prices.
You are one of our biggest supporters on this issue, Faustina. Together we’ve fought to lower prescription drug prices for YEARS — and we’re here today thanks to YOUR letters, calls, tweets, and protests.
But we need one more vote before we can really celebrate: The fate of this bill now lies in the hands of your representatives in the House.
Speak out and tell your representative to vote yes on lower Rx prices NOW >>
The bill, called the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, tackles high drug prices by:
1) Finally allowing Medicare to negotiate the price of drugs
2) Penalizing drugmakers for increasing their prices higher than inflation in Medicare
3) Adding a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap for seniors on Medicare Part D
4) Capping insulin co-pays at $35 in Medicare, helping over 3 million seniors on insulin
5) Making many vaccines, such as shingles, cost-free in Medicare
In short, this bill will not only save money for millions of Americans, but also save lives. And with lower prices, it will also save Medicare and taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. It’s taken a long time, but senators have finally delivered on their promises to tackle out-of-control prescription drug prices — and now it’s time for the House to finish the job.
We know Big Pharma is pushing hard to stop this progress, but AARP members are tenacious, vocal, and the most consistent voting block in the country. And with your help, Faustina, we’ll see this through until it’s signed into law.
We’re so glad to have you on our side,
The AARP Grassroots Advocacy Team"
Faustina, thank you, thank you, thank you. Through an incredible outpouring of calls, emails, petitions, tweets, and visits with lawmakers, we fought to lower drug prices — and we won.
Over our YEARS of fighting for action to address skyrocketing Rx prices, bills were delayed and even stopped in their tracks, but we kept demanding Congress take action — and we won.
Through it all, we stood up to the big drug companies’ army of lobbyists and millions of dollars in misleading advertising — and we won.
Moments ago, the historic Inflation Reduction Act passed the House. It now goes to the President’s desk for signature.
The bill allows Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for the first time ever, penalizes drugmakers for increasing their prices in Medicare higher than inflation, limits what seniors have to pay out-of-pocket for their prescriptions to $2,000 a year, and caps insulin co-pays in Medicare at $35/month.
Because of our work together, millions of Americans will save money on their medication. We are changing lives for people who were forced to choose between paying for everyday needs like groceries or essential medicine.
I am so grateful to each of you who took the time to make your voice heard on this issue. We may not be able to match the money Big Pharma spends. But we bring the voices of real people — and voters — to this fight. You, our AARP members and activists, are our true source of strength. Here are some stats demonstrating your incredible grassroots power:
4,595,404 emails sent to Congress
243,170 phone calls to Congress
4,356,194 petitions signed
24,500 Rx receipts submitted totaling more than $12.1 million in monthly out-of-pocket costs, as part of our ‘Show Your Receipts’ campaign
More than 8,000 stories sharing your personal struggles with high prescription drug costs
72 telephone town halls with members of Congress
Faustina, this is a major victory, but the fight isn’t over. Drug companies are already spending millions to attack the new law so they can keep charging Americans the highest Rx prices in the world and drive up their profits. So we have to stay vigilant.
But I know AARP members NEVER turn away from doing what’s right — especially when our lives, pocketbooks, and well-being are on the line. It is up to us to keep fighting for lower drug prices — and together we will not back down until all Americans 50+ can afford their medications.
Thank you,
Nancy LeaMond, Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer
Faustina — some big news:
Eli Lilly, will cut the price of some insulins to $35 a month.
We fought to cap insulin prices for people on Medicare and because of you, Eli Lilly played follow the leader. To me, this shows the domino effect our advocacy has on the cost of prescription drugs!
These steps forward are thanks to advocates like you, Faustina. As we look toward the challenges ahead in making life sustaining drugs like insulin more affordable for our community, I’m so glad you’re in this fight with us.
Reshma Mehta, Director, AARP Grassroots Advocacy
Reshma Mehta
Vice President, Campaigns
AARP
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