Lawmakers are considering allowing the federal government to negotiate drug prices for Americans enrolled in Medicare and private plans — an effort most Americans favor, according to research released Oct. 12 by Kaiser Family Foundation.
KFF conducted the poll via phone in English and Spanish with a nationally representative sample of 1,146 Americans ages 18 and older between Sept. 23 to Oct. 4.
Four of the poll's key findings:
- Eighty-three percent of respondents supported allowing the federal government to negotiate prices with drugmakers.
- Ninety-three percent of respondents agreed that even if U.S. drug prices were lower, drug companies would still make enough money to invest in research and development.
- Fifty-three percent of respondents said they were confident the AARP, an interest group focusing on issues that affect people ages 50 and older, will make the right recommendations on drug pricing. Fourteen percent were confident in drugmakers to do the same, 33 percent were confident in Republicans in Congress and 48 percent were confident in Democrats in Congress.
- Twenty percent of respondents ages 65 and older reported difficulty affording their prescription drugs, including 17 percent who have some type of prescription drug coverage. The share who reported difficulty affording prescription drugs increased to 27 percent for respondents ages 65 and older who take four or more prescription drugs.