CSRxP Survey: Vast Majority of Americans Want Washington to Focus on Solutions That Crack Down on Big Pharma

Poll Finds U.S. Adults Blame Drug Makers for Rising Prices, Oppose Administration’s Rebate Rule and See Value in PBMs

Washington, D.C. – The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing (CSRxP) released a statement Thursday on a new national survey that found an overwhelming 84 percent of Americans want policymakers to focus on policies that crack down on Big Pharma, rather than measures targeting rebates. The survey, commissioned by CSRxP and conducted by Morning Consult, also shows Americans put blame for rising prescription drug prices at the feet of Big Pharma, believe pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play a key role in the system and oppose the Administration’s proposed Rebate Rule.

“The American people see through the blame game and rightly lay responsibility for rising drug prices at the feet of Big Pharma,” said CSRxP executive director Lauren Aronson. “Americans understand the price gouging of brand name drug makers is a primary driver of higher overall health care costs and has generated a crisis for American patients struggling to afford their medications.”

“This survey confirms Americans don’t want policymakers to be sidetracked by Big Pharma’s blame game targeting PBMs and rebates,” Aronson continued. “U.S. adults are deeply concerned with the projected impacts of the Administration’s proposed Rebate Rule and oppose its implementation by a nearly 30-point margin.”

“Americans from across traditional divides overwhelmingly agree Washington should focus on solutions that crack down on the anti-competitive practices and price gouging of Big Pharma,” Aronson said.

Key takeaways from the Morning Consult survey include:

Americans Want Policymakers to Focus on Holding Big Pharma Accountable

• 68 Points: By a whopping 68-point margin, 84 to 16 percent, surveyed Americans believe policymakers in Washington should focus on cracking down on the anti-competitive and price gouging tactics of Big Pharma rather than on eliminating rebates.
• 92 Percent: America’s seniors, in particular, believe policymakers should focus on Big Pharma rather than rebates, by a massive margin of 92 to 8 percent.

Americans Blame Big Pharma for Rising Prescription Drug Prices

• 60 Percent: Nearly 60 percent of Americans blame Big Pharma’s anti-competitive tactics and price gouging for rising prescription drug prices. That’s nearly triple the number who hold second place insurers responsible.
• 61 & 56 Percent: Lopsided blame for Big Pharma holds true across party lines, with 61 percent of Republicans and 56 percent of Democrats holding drug makers responsible for rising drug prices.

Americans Oppose the Administration’s Proposed Rebate Rule

• 28-Points: Americans informed about the Rebate Rule and its projected impacts oppose the measure margin of 45 to 17 percent, a 28-point spread.
• 88 Percent: A convincing 88 percent of survey respondents express concern with premium hikes for Medicare Part D beneficiaries projected under the Rule, including 60 percent who expressed being “very concerned.”
• More Than 85 Percent: More than 85 percent of Americans nationwide express concern (and more than 50 percent expressed being very concerned) with Big Pharma’s support of the Rule, the projected boost to Big Pharma’s bottom line, the projected cost to taxpayers and the lack of guarantee the Rule will lower drug prices.

Three in Four U.S. Adults Think PBMs Play an Important Role

• 75 Percent: Exactly three in four survey respondents said PBMs play an important role in the drug supply chain, compared to just five percent who said PBMs play a somewhat or very unimportant role.

The poll was conducted by Morning Consult from May 21-23, 2019, among a national sample of 2,201 U.S. adults. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational attainment, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

A Morning Consult summary of the survey can be found HERE.