Advocacy

CHICAGO—AARP today released new data and an infographic illustrating the impact of high prescription drug prices on Americans, specifically people living with cancer, prediabetes or diabetes, and heart disease. AARP unveiled the infographic at the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) annual conference as part of AARP’s nationwide Stop Rx Greed campaign to lower drug prices.

WASHINGTON—AARP is very pleased to announce that AARP National Volunteer President Catherine Alicia Georges, EdD, RN, FAAN has been appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the newly formed Family Caregiving Advisory Council set up under the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act of 2017.

Americans pay among the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs and many have to choose between buying the medications they need and other essentials. Meanwhile, brand name drug prices continue to increase at rates that far exceed general inflation. Nationally, the average annual cost of prescription drug treatment increased 57.8% between 2012 and 2017, while the annual income for Georgians increased only 9.6%.[i]

ASD Hillary Thomas met with the National Organization of Black Lesbians on Aging’s Advocacy group. We presented on Rx Greed as well as discussing AARP’s resources and how we help the aging community.

ASD Jil Hinds and volunteers from the veteran team (Diana Johnson, Herbert Maxwell and Jessie Milner) participated in the Atlanta VA’s Summer Housing Fair.

WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement today after the administration announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) concerning the importation of prescription drugs:

WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement today, responding to the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) announcement that it would markup the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019 this Thursday:

Consumers all across America have to choose between filling life-saving prescriptions and paying rent, buying food and affording other critical essentials.

At AARP Georgia's Day at the Capitol in March, one of our volunteers asked a state legislator about the high cost of prescription drugs. The legislator responded that the cost of medicine is often too high; and that she, herself, has been prescribed $600/month eye drops, which she cannot afford so she doesn't use them. This example is all too common.