AARP Arizona and Senator Kyrsten Sinema Speak Out About Need for Lower Prescription Drug Prices

Four Million Americans, Including 113,709 Arizonans Signed AARP Petition Calling on the Senate and Congress to Act

AARP Arizona State Director Dana Marie Kennedy and Volunteer State President Joe Marquart sent Senator Kyrsten Sinema a virtual delivery of 113,709 petitions that were signed by Arizonans calling for the Senate and Congress to act now and stop unfair drug prices. AARP has called for fair drug prices for years and supports legislation that passed the House in November, which would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, put a cap on out-of-pocket costs that older adults pay for their prescription drugs and impose penalties on drug companies that raise prices faster than the rate of inflation.

“Americans are fed up with paying three times what people in other countries pay for the same drugs. More than four million people across the country, including 113,709 here in Arizona, are joining AARP to demand lower prices for prescription drugs,” said Dana Marie Kennedy, “There will never be a better time to lower drug prices than the historic opportunity in front of the Senate and Congress. Now it’s time to get it done!”

Lowering prescription drug prices has widespread support among voters, regardless of their party affiliation. An AARP survey of voters found that strong majorities of voters want the Senate and Congress to act on the issue, with 89% saying it is very important. The survey also found that 94% of voters support allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.

“After a lifetime of hard work, Arizona seniors deserve to keep more of their money in their pockets, and that’s why I’m laser-focused on lowering the costs of prescription drugs. Last fall, I was proud to finalize a historic agreement that allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, reducing costs for Arizona seniors, ensuring drug prices cannot rise faster than inflation, saving taxpayer dollars, and protecting innovation. We’ll keep working with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and with AARP, to advance our transformative agreement and other proposals to ensure Arizona seniors see real savings on their prescription drugs,” said Senator Kyrsten Sinema.

More information about AARP’s Fair Drug Prices campaign can be found at aarp.org/rx.