Majority Of Americans Find Cost Of Drugs Unreasonable, Support Government Intervention, Survey Reveals

The AP (8/21) reports that a new poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that 72% of Americans found the cost of prescriptions drugs to be “unreasonable,” with large majorities supporting government intervention to control drug costs, “regardless of party affiliation.” Overall, 73% said pharmaceutical companies make too much profit.

        Politico (8/21, Norman) calls the results “striking,” noting that the agreement across party affiliation was a “rare point of accord in politics.” Also covering the story are the Kaiser Health News (8/21), National Journal (8/21, Owens, Subscription Publication), and theWashington Times (8/21, Howell).

        Meanwhile, The Hill (8/21, Sullivan) reports that Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), “the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, is calling out his Republican counterparts for declining his requests to act on high prescription drug prices, in the wake of a new poll on the issue.” Cummings claimed that Republicans have ignored his calls for a congressional investigation into rising drug prices, citing the Kaiser Family Foundation poll.