WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ final implementation guidance of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program:

“AARP commends CMS for issuing final guidance of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. This is an important next step to bring down astronomically high drug prices. Thanks to the new law, Medicare will begin to use its buying power to get a better deal for American seniors and taxpayers by negotiating for lower drug prices. This will save Medicare billions of dollars and help ensure that millions of older Americans can afford the prescription drugs they need.

But the fight isn’t over. Big drug companies are already spending millions trying to overturn the new law so they can keep charging Americans the highest prices in the world. After decades of calling on Congress to make prescription drugs more affordable, AARP and older Americans won the fight for Medicare to negotiate drug prices and help seniors save money on their medications. We won’t back down until Americans finally get the relief they have desperately needed for too long.”

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About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.