600 Sample Statewide Poll of Active & Likely November Voters
Polling Dates: February 13 through February 18, 2024
Conducted by live interviewers, including 80% cell phones — Margin of Error: ±4.0%
Key survey findings
A 75%-16% solid majority supports the Michigan Legislature passing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board by summer recess
If their state representative/state senator votes against this bill, a 56% majority would be less likely to vote for their legislator in next election
Questions were commissioned by the Committee to Protect Health Care and the poll was conducted among a stratified sample of active and likely November general election voters as part of a statewide poll conducted by EPIC ▪ MRA.
When survey respondents were told that “In October of last year, the Michigan Senate passed a bill that would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, an independent board of experts in health care economics, health policy, and clinical medicine that would have no personal or financial stake in the pharmaceutical industry. This new board would review prescription drug costs for Michigan consumers and set payment limits on medications that are too expensive and unaffordable for patients.”
They were then asked, “Do you agree or disagree with this statement: The Michigan Legislature must pass this bill and send it to the governor’s desk before the summer recess and provide financial relief for all Michiganders.” A 75% solid majority of Michigan voters agree with the statement (50% strongly), only 16% disagree, with 9% undecided.
Democrats agree by 86%, Independents by 82% and Republicans by 61%. Independent women agree by 91%, Democratic women by 89%, and Republican women by 70%. Democratic men agree by 82%, Independent men by 69% and Republican men by 54%.
Biden voters agree by 86%, while Trump voters agree by 65%, with undecided voters saying they agree by 71%. Liberals agree by 90%, Moderates by 76% and Conservatives by 65%. All women agree by 82% while all men agree by 67%.
All respondents were then told that “Michigan legislators have a unique opportunity to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, also called a PDAB, before the summer recess. The PDAB would be a nonpartisan group of experts that would set payment limits on the cost of prescription drugs so that drug costs could be lowered at the pharmacy counter, save taxpayer money, and lower employee healthcare costs for small businesses.” All respondents were then asked, “If your state representative or state senator were to vote against creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, would you be more likely to vote for that legislator in the next election, less likely to vote for him or her, or, would you say this one issue would not matter to you one way or the other?
A 56% strong majority would be less likely to vote for their legislator (31% much less likely), with 8% undecided. Only 9% said they would be more likely to vote for their legislator if they voted against the bill, 26% said it would not matter one way or the other,
A 66% majority of Democrats, 55% of Independents and 48% of Republicans said they would be less likely to vote for their legislator if they opposed the bill. Also, a 76% majority of Liberals, 53% of Moderates and a bare 50% majority of Conservatives would be less likely to vote for their legislator.
Moreover, a 64% majority of Biden voters, 52% of Trump voters and 49% of undecided voters in the presidential election would be less likely to vote for their legislator if he or she opposed a bill that would establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
Bernie Porn, President of EPIC-MRA, said “There is very strong support for a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in Michigan, and delaying the vote or opposing the bill has ramifications for this year’s elections as 56% of voters feel committed enough to say they would be less likely to vote for their state legislator if they opposed the proposal. If legislators oppose the establishment of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, their voters will act accordingly at the ballot box.”