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Big Pharma and industry groups should drop lawsuits attempting to block drug price negotiation
More than 70 organizations demanded that Big Pharma executives and industry groups end their resistance to drug price negotiation under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Key policies recommended to expand access and lower insulin prices
Consumer Action and dozens of other advocacy organizations joined in a letter urging Majority Leader Schumer to include key policies to expand access and lower insulin prices in the anticipated drug pricing package.

Groups urge U.S. senators to advance legislation that would result in lower drug prices
More than 40 advocacy organizations sent a letter to the 118th Senate urging the lawmakers to advance legislation would result in lower drug prices for millions.

Groups support CMS proposal to require a generic drug cost-sharing tier for standardized health plans
In a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Consumer Action and its allies applauded the agencies’ efforts to standardize health plan choice by requiring generic drugs be placed on “generic” tiers and brand-name drugs on “brand-name” tiers—a step that would help consumers avoid confusion and save money.

Protect the rights of 45 million contact lens consumers
In a letter to Congress, advocates urged legislators to oppose the so-called Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act (S 1784 and HR 3353). The bills aim to undo almost two decades of protections for contact lens consumers, would drive up prices, and would reduce choices for contact lens consumers.

Advocates urge Congress to pass online kids’ safety reform
In a letter to Congress, coalition groups urged legislators to provide protections for kids and teens online. Advocates warn that the business model of the internet as we know it today isn’t healthy for children. Among their questionable practices, Big Tech companies prioritize continued engagement and data collection over taking offline breaks, encourage kids to share their sensitive data to get more “likes,” and expose young people to predators online.

It’s time to stand up for patients and to stop Big Pharma from ripping us off
As the Senate considered the terms of a reconfigured reconciliation package, 91 organizations representing patients, consumers, seniors, unions, small businesses, large employers, and physicians and disease advocacy groups sent a letter to all 50 Senate Democrats urging them to take immediate action to advance a reconciliation package that includes the reforms to lower prescription drug prices in the Build Back Better Act (BBB). These drug pricing reforms are not controversial for the people of America; they are the most popular element of BBB. Over 80% of Americans support them—Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike.

As the pandemic continues, the Build Back Better Act aims to provide critical assistance to American families
Consumer Action joined over 200 national, state and community organizations in thanking the House of Representatives for the momentous gains made in the Build Back Better Act, reinforcing the need to keep the package intact as it makes its way through the Senate, and urging swift passage onto signature by President Biden. By passing the historic Build Back Better bill, Congress is tackling some of the most important problems families face, by accomplishing things such as cutting taxes for working and middle class families, supporting child and elder care, making college more affordable, providing job training, and making the largest investment in battling climate change in our nation’s history.

Congress to protect all Medicare beneficiaries in reconciliation bill
Consumer Action joined 45 leading consumer, disability, minority health and provider organizations in thanking Congress for taking steps to protect Medicare Advantage beneficiaries when adding new benefits to fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare and encouraging lawmakers to maintain this language in the final bill. The letter comes as Congress considers adding vision, hearing and dental benefits to FFS Medicare as part of its emerging reconciliation package.

More can be done to protect consumers and patients during pharmaceutical mergers
The pharmaceutical industry has become increasingly concentrated in recent years, often resulting in higher prices and reduced choice for consumers. Increasing evidence shows that consumers are paying higher prices for prescription drugs and losing out on access and choice because of less innovation by drug companies. Advocates argue that the Federal Trade Commission’s current approach to monitoring pharmaceutical mergers, and its historically pro-merger policy, fails to fully protect American consumers and patients.