New ad campaign targets Congress on drug prices

Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing is starting an ad campaign to push Congress to take action on lowering drug prices.

The Hill newspaper reported the ad campaign is worth six figures, coming at a time when Democrats are poised to take the House of Representatives next year after running on the cost of healthcare issues.

"Drug prices are going up, every single day," a man in one of the ads says as he appears to write a letter to Congress. "It's price gouging. When will you take action? Congress: You promised lower drug prices. Keep your commitment."

Last month, President Donald Trump said he was helping to lower drug prices by signing two bills that were meant to prevent "gag clauses" in agreements between pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers, which pharmacists had complained kept them from telling customers about cheaper drug options.

"It's a big win for patients," Steve Hoffart, a Texas pharmacist told NBC News after the bills were signed. "It's a big win for patients in terms of allowing pharmacists to openly discuss medication prices to save patient money and health care costs."

The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing said in a previous statement that it wants a continued conversation about drug pricing and a commitment from Congress to bring prices down overall.

"The campaign's goal is to foster a national dialogue on the pricing of new high-cost drug therapies, some of which are now priced at over $1,000 per dose or $100,000 per course of treatment," organizers said in a statement in September.

"These exorbitant costs threaten access to care and result in much higher out-of-pocket costs, higher premiums and higher taxes," the statement continued.

The drug lobby warned last month about efforts to fix drug prices and establishing drug pricing limits that other countries impose.

"The United States has a competitive marketplace that controls costs and provides patients with access to innovative medicines far earlier than in countries with price controls, and it's why we lead the world in drug discovery and development," Stephen Ubl, CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, told CNN.