Sacramento Bee Gives the Lie to Big Pharma’s Lie about Prop 61 Hurting Veterans
“There is no truth to the suggestion the measure increases the
cost of a veteran’s co-pay”
SACRAMENTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Sacramento Bee has reviewed Big Pharma’s ubiquitous veterans’ ads
against Proposition 61 and given the lie to the fabrication that the
measure would increase drug prices for vets. The spots feature veterans
arguing that passage of the measure would cost them more money for drugs
provided through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“The opponents of Proposition 61 have put more than $100 million behind
its defeat,” the Bee writes. “The ad is misleading because it flatly
assumes [that drug companies would raise drug prices to the Department
of Veterans Affairs]. There also is no truth to the suggestion
the measure increases the cost of a veteran’s copay. VA recipients
have fixed co-pays, while some qualify for free health care altogether.”
The full article can be seen HERE.
“Once again, the shameless drug companies have been caught in a lie,
threatening veterans with false claims that their drug prices will
increase if the measure passes,” said Garry South, lead strategist for
the Yes on Prop. 61 campaign. “Both claims stem from one thing: Big
Pharma is terrified of the ripple effect Prop. 61 will have on drug
prices and profits if passed. They bought off the lobbyist for many of
the old-line veterans groups to scare them into opposing Prop. 61. For
too long, Big Pharma has used big money to buy politicians and scare
voters. People are now fed up, and many veterans are seeing through Big
Pharma’s lies and false threats and speaking out in favor of Prop. 61.”
All Yes on 61 vet ads can be seen HERE.
Prop. 61 would require the state of California to negotiate with drug
companies for drug prices that are no more than is paid for the same
drugs by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). Unlike Medicare,
the DVA negotiates for drug prices on behalf of the millions of veterans
it serves, and pays on average 20-24 percent less for medications than
other government agencies, and up to 40 percent less than Medicare Part
D. Prop. 61 empowers the state, as the healthcare buyer for millions of
Californians, to negotiate the same or an even better deal for
taxpayers, saving the state billions.
Prop. 61 has been endorsed by AARP, the California Nurses Association,
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and his new organization Our Revolution,
Consumer Watchdog, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, civil
rights and labor activist Dolores Huerta, the Rev. Al Sharpton, the
Urban League, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the Campaign for a Healthy
California, Progressive Democrats of America, Social Security Works and
VoteVets Action Fund. In addition, Prop. 61 is supported by county
Democratic parties in Alameda, Contra Costa, Madera, Sacramento, San
Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara,
Solano, Sonoma, Ventura and Yolo counties, numerous California
Democratic Party (CDP) officials, including former longtime California
Democratic Party Chair Art Torres, CDP Secretary Daraka Larimore-Hall
and CDP Controller Hilary Crosby. A full list of endorsements can be
found at http://www.Yeson61.com/endorsements/.
Paid for by Yes on Prop 61, Californians for Lower Drug Prices, with
major funding by AIDS Healthcare Foundation and California Nurses
Association PAC. FPPC ID#1376791
Contacts
Yes on Prop. 61
Roger Salazar
916.284.1255
RSalazar@alzamedia.com
