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The AARP is stepping up pressure on Congress by launching a digital advertising campaign on Monday to call on lawmakers to lower prescription drug prices.
The seven-figure ad campaign will focus on the Washington, DC area, appearing in The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Politico and Axios through July 30.
The ad blitz comes as Democrats aim to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices through a measure in the next reconciliation package, saying it will help fund other initiatives.
The AARP cited its June poll as a rationale for pressuring Congress to prioritize reducing drug costs. The majority of 1,000 adults over 50 in this survey said they were at least somewhat worried that they would not be able to afford prescription drugs in the next few years for themselves or their families.
The group had also lobbied for legislation to give Medicare bargaining power in a previous advertising effort in late May and early June in 10 congressional districts in Iowa, North Carolina, New Hampshire, from New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.
Digital ads, including banners, also appeared in posts for two weeks ending June 9.
Democrats argued that allowing Medicare to regulate prices could free up funds for other health care priorities, including expanding Medicare coverage for hearing, vision and access to dental care. . The Congressional Budget Office said the move could save the government hundreds of billions of dollars over 10 years.
“These and other reforms would make a huge difference in the lives of Americans over 50, who have been paying far too much for too long,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president and head of advocacy and of the engagement, in a press release. statement after the June survey.
Drugmakers and Republicans have rallied strongly to negotiating Medicare drug prices, saying it would hamper innovation and research into new drugs and treatments.
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