For Immediate Release June 2, 2021 New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal and Health Care Advocates React to New Poll Showing New Jerseyans’ Broad Support for Prescription Drug Reform West Health Poll Shows Strong Support for Medicare Negotiation Among Voters in New Jersey New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal and Cape May resident Gretchen Landenburger joined Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse to discuss a new statewide poll that shows health care is a top priority for New Jersey voters.

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal and a patient from Cape May joined Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference to discuss a new poll conducted by Global Strategies Group on behalf of West Health showing health care is a top priority for New Jersey voters. Lowering prescription drug prices in particular remains a priority for New Jerseyans, with an overwhelming majority of New Jerseyans reporting that they support giving Medicare the power to negotiate prescription drug prices for all Americans. The poll also shows that voters reject drug companies’ arguments on innovation.

Protect Our Care recently launched The Campaign to Reduce Drug Prices, a seven-figure investment to demonstrate the urgent need for comprehensive legislation to lower drug prices. Protect Our Care will host events both nationally and in 12 key states, including New Jersey, throughout the summer.

“Health care costs and prescription drug prices are top of mind for New Jersey’s families,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “The polls show that New Jerseyans are feeling the impact of high prescription drug prices firsthand, and they support broad reform efforts to address it once and for all. Recent polling shows a large majority of New Jersey voters support giving Medicare the power to negotiate prescription drug prices to make medication more affordable for all Americans. It’s time for Congress to take action on soaring drug prices and help provide families some much-needed relief.”

“Far too many of our friends and neighbors have been impacted by skyrocketing drug prices,” said State Senator Vin Gopal from New Jersey’s 11th Legislative District. “Health care costs are a top priority for New Jersey voters. It’s time for us to advocate for our patients once and for all and give Medicare the power to negotiate with drug companies to make life saving medications more affordable for everyone.”

Gretchen Landenburger, 68, is a Medicare patient from Cape May, New Jersey. She is immunocompromised with chronic bronchitis and takes 10 different medications every day, including breathing treatments that can be very time consuming.

“I am one of the many New Jersey voters who believe that prescription drug prices are rising. I know this because I’ve experienced it firsthand,” said Landenburger. “I have been on Medicare since last year, and it doesn’t cover three of the medications I need most, which used to give me freedom from needing to be home for multiple daily treatments. I now have to pay up to $10,000 per year in medications, not including the nearly $4,000 per month medication I need the most, which I simply cannot afford. Something needs to change, and it is time for Congress to lower prescription drug prices.”

You can watch the press conference here, and learn more about how the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) will make prescription drugs more affordable here.