Americans blame drugmakers for high prices and out-of-pocket costs

A US new national survey finds most voters blame drug companies not only for high drug prices, but also for out-of-pocket costs.

The findings, from the North Star Opinion Research study, undermine the drug industry's $100 million PR campaign to blame higher costs on employers, unions, health plans and the pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) they use to negotiate discounts on prescription drugs, according to the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA).

"Consumers are well aware drug companies set drug prices and they know higher prices mean higher out-of-pocket costs. No one's buying the drug companies' campaign to shift blame to employers, unions, plans, or the PBMs that negotiate discounts on their behalf," said Mark Merritt, chief executive of the PCMA.