Page 17 - NAACP Playbook 7.15.19

Stop Rx Greed Campaign Tough Q&A

AARP has been talking about prescription drug pricing for years yet nothing seems to change the
rising cost of prescription drugs. What makes this campaign different?

The “$top Rx Greed” campaign is a nationwide, sustained effort aimed at pressing Congress, the
Administration and state lawmakers to take action now to lower drug prices. Americans continue to
pay the highest brand-name drug prices in the world. Seniors are particularly vulnerable because they
take an average of 4.5 medications a month. AARP is calling for policy solutions that actually lower
drug prices instead of simply shifting the costs around within the health care system. To do that, we
must deal directly with the root cause of high drug prices: price gouging by drug companies.

We welcome a broad look across the entire drug supply chain, including pharmaceutical
manufacturers, insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, hospitals, doctors, and pharmacists, to find ways
to help drive down drug prices.

AARP has long supported a number of things to help lower drug costs but it’s time for us to move past
just talking about the problem—and find solutions to the problem. There is overwhelming bipartisan
consensus that policymakers need to act now to implement commonsense solutions that address drug
prices. Congress must work with the administration to pass legislation and implement new policies.
State legislators and policymakers also have a real opportunity to address this issue by acting now.

How much is AARP spending on this campaign? How long will it last?

Lowering prescription drug prices is a top issue for AARP’s 38 million members so we will do what it
takes to protect them. We do not share details about our campaign spending, as that would only serve
those who oppose making prescription drugs more affordable. This campaign will be a national,
sustained effort aimed at pressing legislators and policy makers to take action to lower drug prices.

Does AARP plan to advertise? How much and where will it be advertising?

Yes. AARP will have television ads, radio and digital ads. The ads will run in Washington, DC and on a
number of national news programs. Some AARP state offices may also choose to advertise locally, in line with
the nationwide effort of our campaign.

What solutions does AARP support to help bring down drug prices?

AARP supports a number of commonsense solutions with bipartisan support among 50+ Americans:

 Stop Price Gouging. Prescription drug spending is one of the fastest growing components of
Medicare. Every year the program spends more than $129 billion on prescription medicines.