not used title
not used title
Proponents of government price setting often misrepresent voters’ opinions on support for allowing the federal government to “negotiate” drug prices. This includes recent polling from advocacy firms like the Alliance for Retired Americans/Lake Research Partners that fails to reveal voters’ true health care priorities and concerns with government price setting, or so-called “negotiation.”
Polling that misrepresents voter opinion by choosing to focus on only one issue, out of context, and neglects to offer trade-offs and policy alternatives not only grossly oversimplifies serious topics, but also overlooks the true concerns of voters and ignores the voices of patient advocates.
The fact is that non-partisan, independent public polls have repeatedly demonstrated that once Americans understand what government “negotiation” is and what the tradeoffs are – restrictions in access or a slowdown in innovation for new treatments – support evaporates.
Americans reject so-called Medicare negotiation once they learn about the trade-offs.
- According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) research, 65% of Americans oppose negotiation if it leads to less research and development of new treatments or if it limits people’s access to medicines once they come to market.
- 76% of Americans oppose H.R. 3-type “negotiation” if it causes delays in access to new prescription drugs, and 72% oppose it if it results in fewer new medicines developed in the future.
Research from multiple sources reinforces that Americans want to make sure policymakers do not disrupt the innovation ecosystem or limit patient access as part of a “negotiation.”
- Americans are proud of COVID-19 vaccines as a result of government and industry collaboration, and 82% agree keeping a strong American biopharmaceutical industry is a matter of national security to protect us against future pandemics.
- 62% agree we should keep the current law that prohibits government interference in Medicare plan negotiations because it protects seniors and people with disabilities from losing access to their medicines.
Voters prefer commonsense, patient-centered solutions to address their true concerns, like lowering out-of-pocket costs while protecting robust access to medicines.
- 62% strongly support (83% support overall) requiring health insurance companies to pass along to patients more of the discounts on prescription medicines at the pharmacy counter that they negotiate with pharmaceutical companies.
- 60% strongly support (83% support overall) ensuring that deductibles are lower and more affordable so that insurance kicks in earlier when patients need to use it.
- 56% strongly support (75% support overall) placing a cap on the amount health insurers can make patients pay for deductibles, copays and other out-of-pocket costs.
- 54% strongly support (77% support overall) requiring Medicare Part D plans to set a maximum limit for what seniors pay out of pocket for prescription medicines each year.
When it comes to addressing patients’ true priorities, policymakers should instead focus on a better way to improve affordability for patients while protecting access and the future development of new cures and treatments. Learn more about PhRMA’s work to build a better health care system here.
Learn more about voters’ real opinions on health care and detecting polling bias here. And tell Congress to protect Medicare.
Tom Wilbur
Tom Wilbur is Deputy Vice President of Public Affairs at PhRMA where he leads the state public affairs team and Voters for Cures, PhRMA’s grassroots advocacy initiative. Prior to joining PhRMA in 2019, Tom served as a senior aide on Capitol Hill for U.S. Rep. Fred Upton and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Tom holds an M.A. in strategic communications from Michigan State University and a B.A. in social science and history from Central Michigan University. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering, reading and golfing.
Author Twitter
Author LinkedIn
What AARP isn’t telling seniors about MFN
August 24, 2026
CMS proposal could discourage patient-centered innovation
August 18, 2026
Nearly 1 in 4 patients initially denied access to IRA medicines
August 6, 2026
Medicare Part D at 20: Building on a strong foundation
July 23, 2026
MFN won’t lower costs when insurers call the shots
May 8, 2026
Guest Blog: How MFN price controls could decide my health care
April 30, 2026
Survey confirms too many insured Americans face barriers to reliable health care
April 22, 2026
States should avoid repeating the IRA’s price‑setting mistakes
April 21, 2026
Insurers routinely block seniors’ access to medicines in Medicare Part D
March 18, 2026
Americans believe U.S. pharma leadership needs to be protected
February 26, 2026
MFN undermines U.S. biopharmaceutical innovation
February 25, 2026
CMS puts patients and innovation at risk with MFN
February 24, 2026
New list of selected drugs highlights growing consequences of government price setting
January 28, 2026
50-state poll says Americans are concerned that hospital markups hurt patients
January 27, 2026
Guest blog: Making the most of the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
December 8, 2025
The IRA’s price setting doesn’t guarantee lower costs or better access
November 17, 2025
What seniors can expect this open enrollment
October 14, 2025
Part D premiums are going up, while choices are going down
October 8, 2025
Delivering breakthroughs and lower costs for patients
September 8, 2025
Celebrating 60 Years of Medicare
July 30, 2025
Medicare patients face higher drug costs, despite IRA promises
July 22, 2025
Medicare Part D plans initially denied medicines for more than 70% of patients in four chronic disease areas
June 16, 2025
PBMs launch new ad campaign to block reforms
May 5, 2025
Health care practitioners sound the alarm on middlemen-imposed barriers to patient care, need for policy change
March 13, 2025
CMS, don’t fall behind the rest of the medical community on obesity
February 14, 2025
Patients are losing as government price setting continues
January 17, 2025
A new administration poses new opportunities for patient access
December 17, 2024
CMS needs to do better
November 4, 2024
New PES survey: Out-of-pocket costs lead key health care priorities ahead of the November election
October 30, 2024
Americans speak out on health insurance barriers and need for policy change, according to the latest Patient Experience Survey
October 28, 2024
Is CMS paying attention to the growing access barriers for Medicare patients under the IRA?
October 18, 2024
Where voters stand ahead of the election
October 16, 2024
Did the administration consider the importance of blood cancer medicines to patients in price setting process?
October 8, 2024
Did the administration consider the importance of blood clot medicines to patients in the price setting process?
September 25, 2024
The Inflation Reduction Act could increase costs and reduce access for millions of seniors
September 17, 2024
Are the IRA’s Part B inflation rebates lowering costs for Medicare patients? No.
September 16, 2024
Key voter insights two months from Election Day
September 10, 2024
Did the administration consider the value of innovative diabetes medicines in price setting process?
August 28, 2024
New survey: Insurers confirm IRA will reduce patient treatment options
August 20, 2024
The unintended consequences of government price setting in Medicare Part D
August 16, 2024
Don’t put the government between patients and their medicines
August 7, 2024
Biosimilars continue to drive market competition and increase savings for seniors
August 6, 2024
What is the low-income subsidy program and how is it changing?
July 31, 2024
Voters across all 50 states want state policymakers to focus on health insurance and PBM practices
July 30, 2024
Case study: How seniors could face access disruptions because of the IRA’s price setting provisions
July 22, 2024
New 50-state poll Americans want to hold health insurers and PBMs accountable for high out-of-pocket costs and other practices
July 9, 2024
PhRMA reiterates concerns with IRA price setting program, urges CMS to mitigate harm
July 3, 2024
The IRA could lead to higher out-of-pocket costs for 3.5 million Medicare patients in 2026
June 25, 2024
ICYMI: What patients care about this election year
June 24, 2024
Key election year voter insights
June 6, 2024
IRA is already negatively impacting access to medicines in Part D
April 25, 2024
ICYMI: Voter priorities this election season
April 18, 2024
New study finds insurers and PBMs increasing access restrictions in Medicare Part D
April 16, 2024
New analysis: Flawed assessments of a medicine’s value jeopardize patient access
April 11, 2024
Voter insights: Four things to know
March 7, 2024
As the administration continues to falsely claim Medicare “negotiation,” keep these points in mind
February 1, 2024
New poll: Americans agree that expanding the TRIPS waiver will harm U.S. global manufacturing and innovation leadership
January 29, 2024
ICYMI: 3 takeaways on the IRA’s unintended consequences from America’s Physician Groups’ 2023 annual fall conference
November 6, 2023
One year to Election Day: Four voter priorities to watch
November 6, 2023
New poll shows strong bipartisan support for PBM reform
October 20, 2023
ICYMI: Government watchdog report finds patients in Medicare Part D paid billions more for medicines than insurers and PBMs
September 28, 2023
IRA threatens seniors’ access to robust treatment options
September 26, 2023
Medicare Prescription Payment Plan will benefit patients if implemented correctly
September 21, 2023
Correcting the record: IRA’s government price setting provisions are unconstitutional
September 8, 2023
IRA changes to Part D risk access to medicines
August 24, 2023
With the first list of medicines out, let’s not forget why government price setting is bad policy
August 22, 2023
One year later IRAs unintended consequences are becoming reality
August 16, 2023
AARP’s latest misleading report
August 11, 2023
Navigating the Patient Experience Survey: Protecting Lifelines to Access and Innovation
July 26, 2023
Three things to know from the latest Patient Experience Survey
July 20, 2023
Four things for CMS to keep in mind as they implement changes to Part D
June 7, 2023
4 Things to know about PhRMA’s new 50-state poll
May 4, 2023
Americans want state policymakers to lower out-of-pocket costs
May 1, 2023
CMS guidance on IRA price setting process doubles down on bad policy
April 14, 2023
A guide to MedPAC’s Part B vote today
April 13, 2023
MedPAC proposal threatens access to medicines in Part B
April 6, 2023
CMS coverage policy is detrimental to Alzheimer’s patients
April 4, 2023
How Part B’s ASP system helps control costs for the government and seniors
March 30, 2023
Key Trends: Patient experience data reveal how insurers and middlemen impose barriers in health care
March 29, 2023
Medicare Part B spending in four points
March 28, 2023
In their own words: Insured Americans support policy reforms that address access and affordability concerns
December 14, 2022
In their own words: Financial barriers exacerbate access challenges for insured Americans
December 8, 2022
Medicare Part D open enrollment and what recent changes mean for beneficiaries
November 17, 2022
In their own words: Insured Americans struggle to navigate complex coverage
October 26, 2022
Many seniors are paying more for Part D medicines than their insurer
October 18, 2022
Biosimilar uptake is increasing and so are health savings
October 17, 2022
Busting 3 Myths About Copay Coupons
October 5, 2022
Mental Illness Awareness Week – A time for reflection
October 3, 2022
A key fact the White House is reluctant to admit
September 27, 2022
A key fact the White House is reluctant to admit
September 27, 2022
Navigating the patient experience: Burdens and barriers standing between patients and their care
September 12, 2022
CMS coverage policies restrict patient access to important treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease
September 1, 2022
New survey: Voters seriously concerned about fine print in reconciliation bill
August 12, 2022
Myth vs. Fact: The Senate’s latest price setting proposal
August 5, 2022
The Senate’s latest price setting proposal will undermine U.S. economic growth
August 3, 2022
Celebrating Medicare’s 57th anniversary
August 2, 2022
The Senate’s latest price setting proposal will undermine: Our health care system
July 28, 2022
The Senate’s latest price setting proposal will undermine: Patient access to medicines
July 26, 2022
Survey Says: Prescription drug prices are not fueling inflation concerns for Americans
July 22, 2022
New research shows competition driven by biosimilars helps control costs in Part B
July 19, 2022
Polling continues to show voters reject so-called Medicare “negotiation” once they learn about consequences for patients
July 12, 2022
3 things voters are concerned about when it comes to their health care coverage
July 7, 2022
CMS coverage decision restricts access to treatments for Alzheimer’s disease
June 22, 2022
Patients support state action requiring PBMs and insurers to share savings and cap costs for medicines
June 16, 2022
New poll shows voters sounding the alarm on health insurance companies and PBMs
June 6, 2022
Annual projections from NHE compared to actual health care spending
May 5, 2022
Study finds insurance barriers disproportionately burden patients with chronic illness
May 4, 2022
Three charts show how the Medicare Part D program could be improved to work better for seniors and people with disabilities
April 27, 2022
Part D 101: Three charts show how the program provides comprehensive prescription drug coverage
April 26, 2022
5 public opinion polling trends to watch
April 22, 2022
The patient experience: Uncovering the barriers to care for insured Americans
March 28, 2022
The patient experience: Insurance barriers continue to impede access to health care, especially among the country’s underserved
February 28, 2022
Government price setting leaves behind families counting on new medicines
February 23, 2022
Part B 101: Three charts show the program helps control costs for health care system and enrollees
February 18, 2022
PhRMA submits comments urging CMS to withdraw coverage proposal
February 11, 2022
Government price setting won’t stop insurers from shifting costs to patients
February 2, 2022
Research and development continues long after a medicine is initially approved
February 1, 2022
It’s a new year, but sadly Congress is still pursuing flawed price setting policies
January 25, 2022
New poll of all 50 states and 435 Congressional Districts shows perils of so-called Medicare “negotiation”
January 25, 2022
Post-approval research save lives. Why is Congress trying disincentivize it?
December 17, 2021
A price control by any other name would still put patients at risk and threaten innovation
December 9, 2021
Making medicines more affordable: Making insurance work like insurance
December 8, 2021
3 things to know about the importance of post-approval research and development
December 6, 2021
Navigating the patient experience in the time of COVID-19
December 6, 2021
New data show insurers and PBMs increase barriers to care
December 2, 2021
Guest post: Congress should not put future innovation at risk
November 29, 2021
Insurance design barriers can impact patient adherence and can lead to poor health outcomes
November 23, 2021
What is missing in the current drug pricing plan
November 23, 2021
ICYMI: PhRMA CEO speaks at STAT Summit about government price setting
November 19, 2021
Three things to know about so-called Medicare negotiation polling
November 18, 2021
In the current health care debate, Congress has lost sight of what matters to U.S. voters
November 15, 2021
Making medicines more affordable: Modernizing Medicare
November 11, 2021
What they are saying: Government price setting for medicines is not the answer
November 4, 2021
The patient experience: Insurance design hurdles lead to access issues for too many Americans
October 28, 2021
CMS finds medication adherence saved Medicare up to 46.6B in avoided health care costs between 2013 and 2018
October 19, 2021
The patient experience: Out-of-pocket costs are driving patients affordability and access challenges
October 19, 2021
ICYMI: New study confirms policies like H.R. 3 could significantly reduce drug development
October 18, 2021
New poll shows Americans reject Medicare negotiation once they learn more about the policy
October 15, 2021
What is Kaiser Family Foundation up to?
October 12, 2021
New report shows 3 in 10 Americans that have insurance still face a financial barrier to care
October 7, 2021
Industry leaders discuss the impact of the drug pricing debate
September 23, 2021
Five reasons tying VA prices to Medicare Part D misses the mark
September 22, 2021
America’s biopharmaceutical companies to Congress: Government “negotiation” is the wrong approach
September 15, 2021
What they’re saying: Patient advocates want to protect Medicare from government interference
August 24, 2021
Myth vs. fact: Polling and Medicare “negotiation”
August 12, 2021
ICYMI: Event spotlights how we can make Medicare work better for patients
August 4, 2021
The future of the rebate rule: Will policymakers stand with patients?
August 2, 2021
Celebrating Medicare’s 56th anniversary
July 30, 2021
Government “negotiation” could have devastating consequences for Medicare enrollees
July 23, 2021
Protecting Medicare from government interference
July 21, 2021
Data shows voters strongly support protecting access to their medicines
July 15, 2021
Data shows COVID-19 vaccines are creating a pathway to a strong U.S. recovery
July 2, 2021
Medicare “negotiation” proposals threaten Americans’ access to medicines
June 30, 2021
Out-of-pocket trends in Medicare Part D show rising costs for seniors
May 24, 2021
New polling shows Americans are sounding the alarm on the TRIPS IP waiver
May 14, 2021
Four solutions Americans support to make health care more affordable
May 13, 2021
The ABCs (and Ds) of Medicare
May 13, 2021
Data shows that Americans are relying on vaccines to get us through the pandemic
April 22, 2021
Data shows that keeping a strong biopharmaceutical industry is important to Americans
March 30, 2021
ICYMI: Bipartisan lawmakers urge new administration to oppose changes to six protected classes policy
March 11, 2021
Key excerpts: PhRMA submits comments to keep the six protected classes protected
February 19, 2021
Top five issues voters want addressed in the administration’s first 100 days
February 18, 2021
Action needed to preserve the six protected classes
February 3, 2021
Growing trend: Increased vaccine confidence
January 28, 2021
The latest misleading “poll” on drug pricing
January 28, 2021
Election insights: Common ground areas to address Americans’ health care concerns
January 26, 2021
Key facts: The final rebate rule will be a positive change for patients
January 19, 2021
End of year Part D reading List
December 18, 2020
Election insights: Voter priorities in the states
December 17, 2020
Insights from the election: Meeting voters where they are on health care
December 15, 2020
New analysis finds stark difference in coverage of breast cancer medicines for seniors in the United States and England
December 10, 2020
No matter how you look at it, the Most Favored Nation rule is bad policy
December 1, 2020
Final rebate rule represents right way to change Medicare
December 1, 2020
Deep dive: The issues that drove the 2020 vote
November 13, 2020
Voters want to address the real drivers of health care costs for patients and the system
November 2, 2020
Three things you should know about recent health care polling
October 23, 2020
Open Enrollment: How to find a Medicare plan that meets your needs
October 14, 2020
Three reasons why repealing the Part D non-interference clause is a bad idea
October 1, 2020
National Medicare Education Week: The history of Medicare Part D
September 15, 2020
How Medicare Part D supports patients
September 1, 2020
Supporting access to vaccines for Part D beneficiaries
August 12, 2020
Medicare’s 55th anniversary: Celebrating the success of Part D
July 30, 2020
Three reasons why MedPAC’s latest Part D proposal would be bad for patients
July 14, 2020
PhRMA submits comments to CMS on policy changes for in-home care under Part B during COVID-19
May 6, 2020
PhRMA submits comments on CMS’s Part D specialty tier proposal
April 7, 2020
Three reasons the Administration should abandon its International Pricing Index proposal
January 31, 2020
Event tomorrow: Maintaining America’s leadership in access and innovation
October 16, 2019
Pelosi’s radical plan would leave Alzheimer’s patients behind
October 16, 2019
What they are saying: Broad opposition to Pelosi’s radical drug pricing plan
October 10, 2019
Three reasons the Senate Finance package is the wrong approach for patients
August 26, 2019
New analysis: Government intervention in Part B threatens patient access to medicines
August 19, 2019
Three things to know about the Part D GAO report
August 16, 2019
Setting the record straight on international reference pricing
July 16, 2019
No matter how you structure it, government arbitration is wrong for Medicare drug coverage
June 27, 2019
What you should know: Government arbitration is the wrong way to change Medicare
June 10, 2019
By the numbers: A look at the Part B International Pricing Index Model
June 6, 2019
How the rebate rule would help reduce patients’ out-of-pocket costs
June 3, 2019