Washington, D.C.
May 21, 2026 

Americans Living Overseas Warn Against Strict Government Drug Price Controls.

80% of survey respondents prioritize maintaining U.S. medical innovation leadership; majority concerned price controls slow access to breakthrough treatments.

American Citizens Abroad (ACA), a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing the legislative and regulatory concerns of more than 5 million Americans abroad, today released findings from its fall 2025 Member Survey. The polling shows robust support for policies that sustain U.S. leadership in medical research and development and concern about the negative impacts of possible expansion of U.S. drug price controls.

The survey of 833 Americans abroad captured attitudes on health care policy and medical innovation. The demographics of ACA members mirror those of residents in the United States, and 84% of respondents are registered to vote in U.S. elections. ACA members offer a unique perspective of having experienced the U.S. health care system and now are living in countries that take much different approaches to health care.The majority voiced concern that using price controls to reduce the cost of drugs in order to enhance patient access could achieve the opposite effect, slowing the development and availability of breakthrough treatments.

"Americans abroad occupy a distinctive vantage point," said Marylouise Serrato, Executive Director of ACA. "Our members participate in health care systems from around the world while maintaining their strong connection to the United States. They've seen how different policy approaches play out in practice, and they're concerned that government regulations and bureaucracy can have unintended consequences for both drug development and, ultimately, patient access. These results show strong support for policies that sustain America's R&D leadership.”

Key Survey Findings:

• 80% agree it is important for the U.S. to maintain its leadership in drug R& D and innovation. 

• 77% agree U.S. patients benefit when the U.S. continues to lead in medical innovation.

• 60% agree private companies and market competition are better at encouraging innovation than government regulation.

• 54% agree that when governments try to control drug prices too strictly, it can slow down the development and access to new treatments.

• 54% support stronger U.S. patent protections for new medicines to support continued medical innovation in the U.S. and worldwide.

Most survey respondents supported the belief that when governments impose drug pricing
controls, the consequences extend beyond limiting innovation. Such policies also can create barriers for patient access to new treatments. This dual concern is informed by the real-world observations of Americans who have navigated foreign health care systems with varying approaches to pricing policy.

Survey respondents demonstrated strong support for market-based approaches to encouraging medical breakthroughs and protecting the intellectual property rights that make continued investment in research and development viable.

American Citizens Abroad, ACA Inc., is a non-profit membership organization advocating for stronger policies for millions of Americans abroad. ACA, Inc. a non-profit 501(c)4, non partisan membership organization.  Alongside it is American Citizens Abroad Global Foundation (ACAGF), organized as a publicly supported charity under section 501(c)(3). There are no other organizations related to either ACA or ACAGF. Learn more about ACA at: americansabroad.org/. and ACAGF at:ACA Global Foundation