“Dying Is Cheaper”: New Campaign Highlights Dire Cost of Prescription Drugs

Restore Public Trust Highlights Americans’ Drug Pricing Horror Stories As Pharmacy Benefit Manager Executives Testify on Capitol Hill

Washington — Today, as Pharmacy Benefit Manager executives testify about high prescription drug costs before the Senate Finance Committee, accountability group Restore Public Trust launched a digital effort that highlights personal horror stories of rising drug prices. The campaign features the stories of Americans who have been forced to pay too much for their medications, highlights the exorbitant price of prescription drugs, and questions why Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar hasn’t done more to lower drug costs. Today’s campaign comes after Restore Public Trust has highlighted Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar’s history working for the pharmaceutical industry.

“Hearing the stories of American families dealing with rising drug costs is heart-breaking, but knowing that pharmaceutical companies profit off of their struggles is revolting,” said Lizzy Price, spokesperson for Restore Public Trust. “With former Eli Lilly executive Alex Azar running the show at HHS, pharmaceutical companies are still profiting hand over fist as Americans suffer from exorbitantly high drug prices – sometimes being forced to choose between paying rent and buying the medications they need to stay alive. Azar should be working to lower drug prices, instead of shifting the blame to offer cover for pharmaceutical companies.”

The campaign features the stories of Americans who have been forced to pay too much for insulin, heart medicine, and other life-saving medications. In one featured story, someone died after they were forced to stop taking blood thinner when it became too expensive.

Today’s hearing is one of several that Congress has held in recent weeks on the high cost of prescription drugs. The House Energy & Commerce Oversight Subcommittee is holding a two hearing series investigating rising insulin prices, with the second hearing taking place tomorrow.  

Restore Public Trust has previously called attention to Alex Azar’s big pharma past with a digital ad.

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