Bill Overview
Title: Advancing Affordable Medicines for Families Act
Description: This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the potential impact of nonprofit pharmaceutical organizations on the availability and cost of drugs as well as such organizations' potential to accelerate development of new drugs, generic drugs, new biological products, biosimilar products, cell-based therapies, and medical devices.
Sponsors: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Target Audience
Population: People who need medications, treatments, or medical devices
Estimated Size: 330000000
- Nonprofit pharmaceutical organizations aim to make drugs more affordable and accessible.
- The availability and cost of drugs impact all individuals who require medications for health reasons.
- The development of new drugs and generics increases options available to patients, potentially enhancing treatment outcomes.
- Biosimilar and biological products offer alternatives that can lead to cost savings and improved access.
- Cell-based therapies and medical devices are critical for treating many conditions.
Reasoning
- The population affected by this policy is vast due to the widespread reliance on medications in the US.
- Those with low income or without insurance are likely to experience significant benefits from reduced drug costs.
- Chronic illness patients who require continuous medication may observe improvements in access and affordability.
- Nonprofit pharmaceutical initiatives could also lower costs for a wider range of treatments, impacting many indirectly.
- With a constrained budget, the policy needs to target significant impact areas, potentially limiting initial scope.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (Florida)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm on a fixed income, and the cost of my insulin takes a big chunk out of my budget.
- Having more affordable medications would significantly relieve my finances.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Construction worker (Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often have to choose between paying for medication out of pocket or toughing it out.
- Cheaper meds could help me stay healthy enough to keep working.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Biotech researcher (California)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Nonprofit involvement in pharmaceuticals could drive innovation and lower entry barriers for new drug ideas.
- It's exciting to think about more accessible medications for all.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Nonprofit manager (New York)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could complement efforts to ensure families get the medications they need without choosing between health and other necessities.
- Programs like these make a big difference in my community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Pharmacy technician (Illinois)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see too many people struggling to afford medications they desperately need.
- This policy could shift the balance in favor of more equitable healthcare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired teacher (Ohio)
Age: 72 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My medication costs leave little for other necessities.
- If drugs were cheaper, it would greatly reduce my stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
IT consultant (Washington)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I don't have any major health issues currently, the cost of basic drugs still adds up.
- Lower costs could help save money for unexpected health expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Small business owner (Michigan)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Affordable medications can lower insurance costs for my business.
- This could allow me to offer better benefits to my employees.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Student (Nevada)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sometimes I skip my inhaler doses to save money for school supplies.
- Cheaper meds would really take the pressure off.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Nurse (Massachusetts)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could improve how we manage patient care by ensuring they can afford their meds.
- A healthier patient population benefits everyone.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3600000 (Low: $3000000, High: $4000000)
Year 2: $1800000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2000000)
Year 3: $1800000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2000000)
Year 5: $1800000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of nonprofit organizations in impacting drug prices must be scrutinized.
- Potential barriers in market dynamics that could mitigate the anticipated effects.
- Long-timeline effects are speculative but critical for endorsing nonprofit pharmaceutical endeavors.
- Dependency on consistent funding and policy support for the intended outcomes of the policy.