‘A step toward greater transparency and healthier options,’ says Executive Director Katy Talento
WASHINGTON — The Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (Alliance) responded to the White House’s recent directive on prescription drug advertising by pointing to a larger, deeper problem: a health care system dominated by pharmaceutical interests that profit from illness while driving costs out of reach for everyday Americans.
President Trump’s memorandum instructs U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary to tighten oversight of direct-to-consumer drug advertising, demanding that companies clearly communicate risks and comply with truth-in-advertising laws.
But the Alliance cautioned that while cracking down on deceptive drug marketing is a necessary step, it doesn’t address the root of the problem — a corrupt and unsustainable system in which pharmaceutical giants dictate the terms of care and cost.
“This is less about policy details and more about waking up to a broken system,” said Katy Talento, executive director of the Alliance. “Americans are increasingly aware that Big Pharma has far too much power — not just in setting prices, but in shaping our entire approach to health. A pill for every problem has become the norm, and families are paying the price.”
Proposals such as so-called “most-favored-nation” pricing may appear to target drug costs, the Alliance observed, but such policies risk triggering concerns about government overreach and economic distortion — distracting from the more urgent need to empower Americans with sustainable, ethical alternatives.
“Whether you’re skeptical of government-controlled pricing or tired of being at the mercy of pharma monopolies and the shadowy middlemen called pharmaceutical ‘benefit’ managers, one thing is clear: the current model isn’t working,” Talento added. “We need a total rethinking of how we stay healthy — starting with personal responsibility, community support and faith-driven care.”
Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs), the organization emphasized, have offered a proven, community-based alternative to insurance and drug-driven medicine for decades. Unlike conventional health coverage, HCSMs promote prevention, personal accountability and shared spiritual values.
“Long before anyone in Washington started talking about making America healthy again, our ministries were already doing it,” said Talento. “Health Care Sharing Ministries provide prescription discount programs to their members, and educate them about how to leverage the cash-pay market that often offers the best prices on medications. We welcome any effort to expose the manipulation and profiteering of the pharmaceutical industry — but we must also preserve and protect the rights of Christian families to choose a better way, such as through Health Care Sharing Ministry memberships.”
As policymakers debate how to rein in costs and corruption in health care, the Alliance encourages Americans to consider joining a Health Care Sharing Ministry — a model that prioritizes wellness, transparency and community over corporate profit.
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries is a 501(c)(6) trade organization representing the common interests of Health Care Sharing Ministries, which facilitate the sharing of health care needs (financial, emotional, and spiritual) by individuals and families, and their participants. The Alliance engages with federal and state regulators, members of the media, and the Christian community to provide accurate and timely information on health care sharing.
To learn more about the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, visit www.ahcsm.org or follow the ministry on Facebook or Twitter.
To interview a representative from the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Richard Jefferson, rjefferson@hamiltonstrategies.com.