Survey Shows Americans Strongly Support Medicare Negotiation Amid Pharma’s Claims of Negative Impact to Innovation

A new survey shows that most Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, support negotiation by the federal government in prices of drugs receiving Medicare coverage. Although many claims have been made that such a shift in policy would negatively impact pharmaceutical innovation, less than 20% of the Americans surveyed considered this an issue.

West Health Chief Strategy Office Tim Lash remarks, “Americans aren’t buying the claim that attempts to reign in drug prices will stifle innovation and devastate the pharmaceutical industry,” adding, “These misleading arguments are meant to preserve profits rather than protect patients. The time has come to finally enable Medicare negotiation. Americans are becoming increasing restless for it to happen even if the pharmaceutical companies are not.” Read more here.

(Source: West Health/Gallup, 6/3/21)