As Big Pharma Jacks Up Prices, McSally Sides With Backers to Oppose Pricing Reforms

PHOENIX, Arizona, Jan. 9 -- The Arizona Democratic Party issued the following news release:

Just one week into 2020, pharmaceutical corporations are already jacking up prescription drug prices, according to CBS News -- while unelected U.S. Sen. Martha McSally, standing with her corporate backers and Mitch McConnell's obstructionism over Arizonans, continues to oppose letting Medicare negotiate for lower prices.

CBS News reports that "So far in 2020, prices on 411 drugs have increased an average of 5%, according to GoodRx, which tracks the cost of more than 3,500 drugs. Of the drugs that have seen rising prices, 407 were brand-name products and four were generic."

In December, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Medicare drug price negotiation bill that is estimated to help lower pricing for certain treatments "by thousands per month" via giving Medicare the authority to negotiate for lower drug prices.

But McConnell hasn't brought the bill up for a vote. And McSally -- who opposes Medicare price negotiation -- is opposing the measure, standing with the pharma-linked corporate interest groups backing her campaign.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- which has already announced nearly $1 million in TV ads to support McSally's 2020 campaign -- publicly campaigned against the Medicare drug price negotiation bill. The group "strongly opposes" the measure, which it claims sets a "dangerous precedent."

McSally has received nearly $200,000 from health care industry corporate PACs while voting to let insurance companies jack up premiums on older Americans and people with a pre-existing condition, and while opposing policy solutions like Medicare price negotiation as her pharma industry backers keep jacking up prescription drug prices.