October 10, 2014

Contact:   Greg Galdabini
                  ggaldabini@nchc.org
                  703-989-0832

FDA Approval and Pricing for New Gilead Hep C Treatment

Statement by John Rother, President and CEO of the National Coalition on Health Care

“By charging $94,500 for Harvoni, Gilead has made clear that it values Wall Street above the interests of patients, taxpayers, employers, and working families who must shoulder the burden of high health care costs. The company’s refusal to take a more reasonable and moderate approach to pricing cements its status as the poster child for everything that is wrong with pharmaceutical industry pricing.

Gilead’s escalator pricing strategy could undermine the system of health care finance that has supported the biomedical innovation that we all want to continue. Unreasonable pricing not based on value threatens the sustainability of our entire health care system.”

Read John Rother’s blog post.

Read John Rother’s letter to lawmakers urging them to consider value transparency for pharmaceuticals.

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The National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC), the oldest and most diverse group working to achieve comprehensive health system reform, is a 501(c)(3) organization representing more than 80 participating organizations, including medical societies, businesses, unions, health care providers, faith-based associations, pension and health funds, insurers and groups representing consumers, patients, women, minorities and persons with disabilities. Member organizations collectively represent – as employees, members, or congregants – over 100 million Americans.

Some members of NCHC do not, or cannot, take positions either on specific legislation, strategies or on any policies outside their respective mission areas. However, all that can, do endorse broad policy positions in support of comprehensive health system change.