AARP Launches ‘Stop Rx Greed’ Campaign

Today, AARP announced the launch of ‘ Stop Rx Greed,’ a nationwide campaign aimed at lowering prescription drug prices. The goal of AARP’s sustained campaign is to help drive down drug prices for Mississippians and all Americans by advocating for a variety of legislative, executive, and regulatory actions at both the federal and state levels.

“High prescription drug prices affect older Mississippians and all consumers who are struggling to afford their medications” said AARP Mississippi State Director Kimberly L. Campbell, Esq. “They need a solution now and cannot afford to wait any longer.”

As part of the campaign, AARP Research conducted a national survey of likely voters ages 50 and older. The survey found that significant majorities of self-identified Republican, Democrat, and Independent voters shared concerns about the high price of drugs, and support common-sense policies that will lower prices. S urvey findings include:

• 72 percent say they are concerned about the cost of their medications.
• 63 percent say the cost of prescription drugs is unreasonable.
• 90 percent support allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices.   
• 80 percent report taking at least one prescription medication.
• Nearly 40 percent say they did not fill a prescription provided by their doctor with cost being the most common reason.

“Many Mississippians know someone who splits pills or makes choices between food and medications in order to just make ends meet,” Campbell said. “Furthermore, high and growing drug prices are affecting all Mississippians in some way. Their cost is passed along to everyone with health coverage through increased health care premiums, deductibles, and other forms of cost-sharing. They are also driving larger cost increases for a variety of taxpayer-funded programs.”

The Stop Rx Greed campaign will include national television, radio and digital ads, editorial content, emails to members, social media posts, ongoing advocacy and grassroots activity in D.C. and the states, and a petition calling on Congress and the Administration to take action now. As part of the campaign, AARP will push for support of a number of policy solutions at the national and state level to help lower drug prices, including:

• Allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices.
• Allowing states to negotiate lower prices with drug companies.
• Giving state Attorneys General authority to crack down on outrageous price increases.
• Clamping down on pay-for-delay and other loopholes that keep lower cost generic drugs off the market.
• Capping consumers’ prescription drug out-of-pocket costs.
• Preserving state pharmacy assistance programs.

For more about Stop Rx Greed, visit www.aarp.org/rx .