High drug prices disproportionally burden indigenous people.
Protect Our Care, 7-16-2021, "NEW REPORT: How High Drug Prices Hurt American Indians and Alaska Natives — Protect Our Care," Protect Our Care, (Protect Our Care is dedicated to making high-quality, affordable and equitable health care a right for everyone in America.) https://www.protectourcare.org/new-report-how-high-drug-prices-hurt-american-indians-and-alaska-natives/,
Racial inequity penetrates every corner of the American health care system, and high prescription drug prices are no exception. Nearly 30 percent of individuals taking prescription medications struggle to afford the cost, with the burden most severely impacting those who make less than a year and have medication costs over $100. These factors disproportionately impact American Indians and Alaska Natives, who are more likely to require medications for chronic health conditions, while simultaneously earning household median incomes nearly less than white counterparts, resulting in reduced ability to pay at the pharmacy counter. In addition, many American Indians and Alaska Natives live in one of the yet to implement Medicaid expansion, with people of color comprising of individuals living in the coverage gap.
“Structural racism has led to American Indians and Alaska Natives being disproportionately burdened by both high drug prices and wealth inequality in the United States,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “It is unacceptable that millions of people can’t afford the drugs they need to survive. Bringing down the cost of drugs is an essential step in addressing racial inequities in health care. It’s time to put an end to Big Pharma’s greed and give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices.”