Majority of US patients' groups siding with Big Pharma against Medicare Part B pricing reforms receive industry funding; report

The overwhelming majority of US patients’ groups opposing a Medicare Part B proposal to reduce drug expenditures got funding from the pharmaceutical industry, according to a new Public Citizen report.

The US consumer advocacy’s report, “Patients’ Groups and Big Pharma,” examined industry funding for 147 patients’ groups publicly opposing the Medicare Part B proposal, documenting disclosures of funding and sponsorships from the drug and medical device industry to 110 of those groups (75% of the total).

The patients’ groups voiced their opposition to the Medicare Part B reforms by signing either a letter to congressional leadership (organized by the Community Oncology Alliance) or a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (organized by the Partnership to Improve Patient Care). An additional 241 groups, mostly associated with doctors or the pharmaceutical industry, both of which have a financial incentive for opposing the reforms – also signed letters.