A flawed policy in the Inflation Reduction Act known as the “pill penalty” discourages investment in pill-based medicines—threatening patient access, innovation and affordability.
The “pill penalty” is a policy in the Inflation Reduction Act that subjects pill-based medicines to government price setting years earlier than other treatments. It discourages investment in innovation for pill-based treatments and fails to address the real drivers of high costs, like PBMs and 340B hospitals. That means:
We’re already seeing the impact: investment in pill-based medicines has dropped nearly 70% since the IRA was introduced, putting future innovation at risk.
“The pill penalty is causing more harm than good. It’s not about politics. It’s about people. Cancer doesn’t care if treatment comes in a pill and neither should Congress.” – Terry, Patient Advocate & Colon Cancer Survivor
Congress has a bipartisan fix on the table: the EPIC Act (Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures Act). This legislation would level the playing field between small molecule pills and biologic treatments. That means:
Tell Congress: support the EPIC Act, a bipartisan bill that would fix the pill penalty, protect patient access and fuel the next wave of medical innovation. Because better policy means better treatments, for all patients.
Advocates are speaking out to protect access to pill-based treatments.
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