AARP NJ Unveils “Stop Rx Greed” Video Campaign to Combat Rising Prescription Drug Costs

AARP New Jersey unveils its statewide campaign to lower prescription drugs with a series of videos featuring real people talking about real problems with high prescription drug prices.

New Jersey residents, like all Americans, pay among the highest drug prices in the world. And prices keep climbing. Big Pharma has raised the average annual cost of brand name prescription drug treatment 58 percent between 2012 and 2017. That far outstrips price increases for other goods and services. And it outstrips the average annual income for New Jersey residents, which increased 10 percent over the same time.

AARP New Jersey’s campaign efforts will focus on cracking down on excessive drug price increases and allowing Medicare to use its buying power to negotiate lower drug prices.

“In 2017, nearly one in four New Jersey residents stopped taking medication as prescribed due to cost,” said Stephanie Hunsinger, AARP New Jersey’s State Director. “It’s time to end price gouging and the greedy practices that keep prescription drug prices artificially high. No one should have to choose between paying for their monthly medications and paying for food for their families.”

AARP urges members of the New Jersey Legislature to take action and enact state level legislation to lower prescription drug prices.

To learn more about the national AARP campaign and to take action, visit aarp.org/rx.