February 2023

President Biden and Democrats in Congress Delivered On Their Promises to Lower Health Care Costs, Reduce Drug Prices, and Improve Care for Families Nationwide

WATCH: President Biden and Democrats in Congress Health Care Achievements

From day one, President Biden has put the health and well-being of Americans first. Since taking office in 2021, President Biden and Congressional Democrats have delivered the most expansive health care reform since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by passing the American Rescue Plan in 2021 and Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. This legislation provided essential relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, drove down drug prices, and extended premium savings for millions of American families. President Biden has also taken executive action to expand affordable coverage, stop surprise billing, strengthen maternal care, and reduce racial, rural, and other disparities in our health care system. As a result, ACA coverage is more affordable than ever before, and the uninsured rate is at an all-time low. 

By The Numbers

• A record 16.3 million Americans signed up for health care coverage on the ACA during the 2022-2023 open enrollment season.
• The uninsured rate is at an all-time low of 8 percent.
• Over 91 million people have health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP.
• 13 million Americans with health insurance from an ACA marketplace plan will save an average of $2,400 per family on their premiums thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. 
• 49 million Medicare beneficiaries no longer face outrageous price hikes for prescription drugs. 
• Seniors’ out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs will be capped at $2,000 per year beginning in 2025.
• Insulin copays are capped at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries beginning in 2023. 
• 80 of the most expensive prescription drugs will have lower prices because of Medicare negotiations by 2030.

10 Ways Health Care Has Improved Thanks To President Biden And Democrats In Congress

1. Reaching Record Levels Of Health Care Coverage. Thanks in large part to the Inflation Reduction Act, the uninsured rate is at an all-time low. A record 16.3 million Americans signed up for health insurance through the ACA marketplaces. The Biden Administration also made historic investments in the Navigator program to help connect more people to coverage, with a focus on outreach to racial and ethnic minorities, people in rural areas, LGBTQ+ people, and other underserved communities. With the enhanced subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act and boosted funding for outreach, 3.6 million people enrolled on the marketplace for the first time this year.
2. Reducing Premiums For Millions. President Biden eliminated the family glitch, allowing an additional 1 million people to purchase affordable coverage on the ACA marketplaces with premium tax credits. Premium savings under the American Rescue Plan benefitted millions of Americans, with families saving an average of $2,400 a year on their health insurance premiums. The Inflation Reduction Act extended these premium savings for 13 million families, ensuring no one pays more than 8.5 percent of their income on coverage through the ACA. For Americans with Medicare Part D, Democrats have increased the range of full subsidized assistance to individuals with incomes up to 150% above the poverty level, also under the Inflation Reduction Act. This will allow for 417,000 more Americans to have access to full Medicare Part D assistance, helping them afford countless life-saving medications beginning in 2024.
3. Lowering Drug Costs For Seniors. Millions of people on Medicare still struggle to pay for life-saving prescriptions. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, when drug companies hike prices faster than that the rate of inflation, they will face a penalty. This will not only save the government billions of dollars, but it will drastically reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Protecting seniors from these drug hikes will also work to reduce the racial inequities in our health system as Black Medicare beneficiaries are nearly twice as likely than white Medicare beneficiaries to stop taking a prescription due to cost. Medicare Part D plans will also be required to offer improved financial protections and cap annual out-of-pocket spending to $2,000 for more than 46.6 million Americans with Medicare Part D.
4. Giving Medicare The Power To Negotiate Lower Prices. The Inflation Reduction Act also finally ended the ban on giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices, which will save taxpayers billions of dollars and lower costs for some of the most popular and expensive prescription drugs. By 2030, 80 of the most expensive prescription drugs will have lower prices because of these negotiations.
5. Capping Insulin Costs. The outrageous prices of insulin, a drug vital for the survival of 3,429,000 Medicare beneficiaries, have forced 80 percent of Americans with diabetes to take out debt in order to pay for their prescriptions and over 13 percent to skip doses entirely due to high costs. The Inflation Reduction Act caps insulin prices at no more than $35 for all Medicare beneficiaries beginning in January — saving seniors up to $1,500 annually.
6. Ensuring Lifesaving Vaccine Access For Seniors. All Medicare Part D beneficiaries will have access to covered vaccines, such as shingles and Tdap, at no cost starting in 2023. White Americans are nearly twice as likely to have received the shingles vaccine than Black Americans and much of this gap can be traced back to cost and lack of access to this vital form of preventive health care. This provision alone will save seniors hundreds of dollars on their health care costs, keep millions of people healthy, and prevent dangerous complications associated with shingles, and other serious diseases.
7. Improving Maternal Health Access. The American Rescue Plan created a pathway to coverage for pregnant Americans, allowing states to extend postpartum coverage under Medicaid from 60 days to 12 months following pregnancy. The United States has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the industrialized world, with 12 percent of maternal deaths occurring between six weeks and one year following delivery, after Medicaid coverage has ended. Maternal mortality disproportionately affects women of color. Birth-related deaths are three times more likely in Black women than their white counterparts and American Indian and Alaska Native women have a maternal mortality rate 2.3 times higher than white women. Today, 37 states and the District of Columbia have extended or plan to extend this coverage to the full 12 months allotted by the American Rescue Plan. Congress extended this option in recent legislation.
8. Protecting Health Care For Moms And Kids. Congress recently passed legislation to guarantee 12-month continuous coverage for children on Medicaid and CHIP once they are enrolled, ensuring millions are not arbitrarily thrown off of their coverage.
9. Banning Surprise Billing. The No Surprises Act went into effect January 1, 2022 and prohibits surprise medical bills for out-of-network care that occurs in unexpected or emergency situations. The Biden administration is committed to protecting patients and holding insurers and providers accountable for deceptive billing practices.
10. Addressing Affordability To Increase Health Care Access And Advance Equity.  The premium savings continued through the Inflation Reduction Act have made more than 65 percent of uninsured Black adults and more than 68 percent of uninsured Hispanic and Latino adults eligible for zero-dollar premium plans. Nearly 80 percent of uninsured Hispanic and Latino adults and 75 percent of uninsured Black adults can now also access plans for less than $50 a month. The Center on Budget Policy and Priorities estimates the premium savings under the Inflation Reduction Act will cause a sharp decline in the uninsured rate across every racial group, with a projected one in three uninsured Black adults gaining coverage. Additionally, under the Inflation Reduction Act, roughly 65 percent of rural Americans now have access to zero-dollar premium health coverage and more than 76 percent are able to find a plan for less than $50 a month, narrowing the coverage differences significantly between rural and urban America.

Democrats Are Continuing Their Work to Lower Health Care Costs, Reduce Drug Prices, and Improve Care for Families Nationwide

Watch the Full Event Here. 

Washington DC — Today, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) joined patient advocates and Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference to discuss how Democrats have delivered the most important health care improvements since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expanding affordable coverage, driving down prescription drug costs, strengthening Medicaid for moms and kids, and reducing inequities in care.

Last year, Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered prescription drug and premium costs for millions of seniors and families. Just last week, the Biden administration announced that a record 16.3 million people signed up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Now, President Biden and Democrats in Congress are working to build on these health care gains and thwart GOP attempts to undermine progress and raise health care costs. Read Protect Our Care’s full 2023 agenda here. 

“We’ve been in a bunch of these battles over the years against Big Pharma. On the big issues like negotiating penalties for price gouging, out-of-pocket caps and more, Big Pharma always won. What happened on the floor of the United States Senate is the people beat Big Pharma, and Big Pharma is not happy about it,” said U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). “Meanwhile, as part of this debt ceiling negotiation, we cannot let Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid be held hostage. You’re going to hear some Republicans starting tomorrow night claim they have no intention of touching Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Folks believe it when we see it because when you look at what Speaker McCarthy said in order to win the speakership, it’s pretty hard to do their budget balancing without making the changes in Social Security and Medicare, which would hurt a lot of people.”

“I’ve been self-employed for the past 14 years, and during that time, I broke every bone in my right ankle falling down the stairs and tore my bicep muscle in another accident – both of which were not covered by my insurance. I now have a gold plan with a zero-dollar deductible for $251 a month and I’m covered for any further accidents. If it wasn’t for the Inflation Reduction Act, the premium would be $600 a month and would be unaffordable,” said Randie Snow of Pittsburgh. “If I could ask one thing of Congress, it would be to make sure that this subsidy enhancement is permanent, so that other freelancers and independent contractors like myself can afford real health care.”

“When we age, our immune system changes, and we don’t fight off things as we once did. In my case, it was stress that had brought shingles on. So after I was all healed, I went to get vaccinated and I was shocked at the cost of the copayment. Even though I had a great insurance program, it was still $120,” said Linda Hamacher of Michigan. “A lot of people need this immunization, but this is certainly one that the cost has really been prohibitive. Now, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, this vaccine is free for seniors. These benefits are real. They’re now. It’s real help and it’s real help right now.”

“Democrats have a lot to celebrate at tomorrow’s State of the Union address. Thanks to the work of health care champions like Senator Wyden, we have expanded affordable coverage, lowered prescription drug prices, and strengthened health care for moms, kids, and families,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Whether it’s a senior with diabetes taking insulin or a small business owner relying on ACA coverage, millions of Americans can sleep easier knowing they can afford the health care they need. At a time when Republicans have doubled down on their war on health care — by seeking cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, trying to repeal the ACA and the Inflation Reduction Act, and ripping away critical protections — it has never been more critical to remain focused on protecting health care access and putting the health and well-being of families first.”

Fact Sheet: Celebrating Health Care Achievements Ahead of the State of the Union

From day one, President Biden has put the health and well-being of Americans first. Since taking office in 2020, President Biden and Congressional Democrats have delivered the most expansive health care reform since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by passing the American Rescue Plan in 2021 and Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. This legislation provided essential relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, drove down drug prices, and extended premium savings for millions of American families. President Biden has also taken executive action to expand affordable coverage, stop surprise billing, strengthen maternal care, and reduce racial, rural, and other disparities in our health care system. As a result, ACA coverage is more affordable than ever before, and the uninsured rate is at an all-time low. 

By The Numbers

• A record 16.3 million Americans signed up for health care coverage on the ACA during the 2022-2023 open enrollment season.
• The uninsured rate is at an all-time low of 8 percent.
• Over 91 million people have health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP.
• 13 million Americans with health insurance from an ACA marketplace plan will save an average of $2,400 per family on their premiums thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. 
• 49 million Medicare beneficiaries no longer face outrageous price hikes for prescription drugs. 
• Seniors’ out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs will be capped at $2,000 per year beginning in 2025.
• Insulin copays are capped at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries beginning in 2023. 
• 80 of the most expensive prescription drugs will have lower prices because of Medicare negotiations by 2030.

Read the full fact sheet here. 

President Biden and Democrats in Congress Delivered On Their Promises to Lower Health Care Costs, Reduce Drug Prices, and Improve Care for Families Nationwide

From day one, President Biden has put the health and well-being of Americans first. Since taking office in 2020, President Biden and Congressional Democrats have delivered the most expansive health care reform since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by passing the American Rescue Plan in 2021 and Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. This legislation provided essential relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, drove down drug prices, and extended premium savings for millions of American families. President Biden has also taken executive action to expand affordable coverage, stop surprise billing, strengthen maternal care, and reduce racial, rural, and other disparities in our health care system. As a result, ACA coverage is more affordable than ever before, and the uninsured rate is at an all-time low. 

By The Numbers

• A record 16.3 million Americans signed up for health care coverage on the ACA during the 2022-2023 open enrollment season.
• The uninsured rate is at an all-time low of 8 percent.
• Over 91 million people have health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP.
• 13 million Americans with health insurance from an ACA marketplace plan will save an average of $2,400 per family on their premiums thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. 
• 49 million Medicare beneficiaries no longer face outrageous price hikes for prescription drugs. 
• Seniors’ out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs will be capped at $2,000 per year beginning in 2025.
• Insulin copays are capped at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries beginning in 2023. 
• 80 of the most expensive prescription drugs will have lower prices because of Medicare negotiations by 2030.

10 Ways Health Care Has Improved Thanks To President Biden And Democrats In Congress

1. Reaching Record Levels Of Health Care Coverage. Thanks in large part to the Inflation Reduction Act, the uninsured rate is at an all-time low. A record 16.3 million Americans signed up for health insurance through the ACA marketplaces. The Biden Administration also made historic investments in the Navigator program to help connect more people to coverage, with a focus on outreach to racial and ethnic minorities, people in rural areas, LGBTQ+ people, and other underserved communities. With the enhanced subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act and boosted funding for outreach, 3.6 million people enrolled on the marketplace for the first time this year. 
2. Reducing Premiums For Millions. President Biden eliminated the family glitch, allowing an additional 1 million people to purchase affordable coverage on the ACA marketplaces with premium tax credits. Premium savings under the American Rescue Plan benefitted millions of Americans, with families saving an average of $2,400 a year on their health insurance premiums. The Inflation Reduction Act extended these premium savings for 13 million families, ensuring no one pays more than 8.5 percent of their income on coverage through the ACA. For Americans with Medicare Part D, Democrats have increased the range of full subsidized assistance to individuals with incomes up to 150% above the poverty level, also under the Inflation Reduction Act. This will allow for 417,000 more Americans to have access to full Medicare Part D assistance, helping them afford countless life-saving medications beginning in 2024.
3. Lowering Drug Costs For Seniors. Millions of people on Medicare still struggle to pay for life-saving prescriptions. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, when drug companies hike prices faster than that the rate of inflation, they will face a penalty. This will not only save the government billions of dollars, but it will drastically reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Protecting seniors from these drug hikes will also work to reduce the racial inequities in our health system as Black Medicare beneficiaries are nearly twice as likely than white Medicare beneficiaries to stop taking a prescription due to cost. Medicare Part D plans will also be required to offer improved financial protections and cap annual out-of-pocket spending to $2,000 for more than 46.6 million Americans with Medicare Part D. 
4. Giving Medicare The Power To Negotiate Lower Prices. The Inflation Reduction Act also finally ended the ban on giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices, which will save taxpayers billions of dollars and lower costs for some of the most popular and expensive prescription drugs. By 2030, 80 of the most expensive prescription drugs will have lower prices because of these negotiations.
5. Capping Insulin Costs. The outrageous prices of insulin, a drug vital for the survival of 3,429,000 Medicare beneficiaries, have forced 80 percent of Americans with diabetes to take out debt in order to pay for their prescriptions and over 13 percent to skip doses entirely due to high costs. The Inflation Reduction Act caps insulin prices at no more than $35 for all Medicare beneficiaries beginning in January — saving seniors up to $1,500 annually.
6. Ensuring Lifesaving Vaccine Access For Seniors. All Medicare Part D beneficiaries will have access to covered vaccines, such as shingles and Tdap, at no cost starting in 2023. White Americans are nearly twice as likely to have received the shingles vaccine than Black Americans and much of this gap can be traced back to cost and lack of access to this vital form of preventive health care. This provision alone will save seniors hundreds of dollars on their health care costs, keep millions of people healthy, and prevent dangerous complications associated with shingles, and other serious diseases. 
7. Improving Maternal Health Access. The American Rescue Plan created a pathway to coverage for pregnant Americans, allowing states to extend postpartum coverage under Medicaid from 60 days to 12 months following pregnancy. The United States has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the industrialized world, with 12 percent of maternal deaths occurring between six weeks and one year following delivery, after Medicaid coverage has ended. Maternal mortality disproportionately affects women of color. Birth-related deaths are three times more likely in Black women than their white counterparts and American Indian and Alaska Native women have a maternal mortality rate 2.3 times higher than white women. Today, 37 states and the District of Columbia have extended or plan to extend this coverage to the full 12 months allotted by the American Rescue Plan. Congress extended this option in recent legislation. 
8. Protecting Health Care For Moms And Kids. Congress recently passed legislation to guarantee 12-month continuous coverage for children on Medicaid and CHIP once they are enrolled, ensuring millions are not arbitrarily thrown off of their coverage. 
9. Banning Surprise Billing. The No Surprises Act went into effect January 1, 2022 and prohibits surprise medical bills for out-of-network care that occurs in unexpected or emergency situations. The Biden administration is committed to protecting patients and holding insurers and providers accountable for deceptive billing practices.
10. Addressing Affordability To Increase Health Care Access And Advance Equity.  The premium savings continued through the Inflation Reduction Act have made more than 65 percent of uninsured Black adults and more than 68 percent of uninsured Hispanic and Latino adults eligible for zero-dollar premium plans. Nearly 80 percent of uninsured Hispanic and Latino adults and 75 percent of uninsured Black adults can now also access plans for less than $50 a month. The Center on Budget Policy and Priorities estimates the premium savings under the Inflation Reduction Act will cause a sharp decline in the uninsured rate across every racial group, with a projected one in three uninsured Black adults gaining coverage. Additionally, under the Inflation Reduction Act, roughly 65 percent of rural Americans now have access to zero-dollar premium health coverage and more than 76 percent are able to find a plan for less than $50 a month, narrowing the coverage differences significantly between rural and urban America.

 ***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6 AT 12:30 PM ET // 9:30 AM PT***

Senator Wyden and Protect Our Care to Celebrate Lower Health Care Costs and Discuss Need to Protect and Strengthen the Inflation Reduction Act

Washington, DC — On Monday, February 6, 2023 at 12:30 PM ET, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) will join patient advocates and Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference to discuss how Democrats have delivered the most important health care improvements since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expanding affordable coverage, driving down prescription drug costs, strengthening Medicaid for moms and kids, and reducing inequities in care. As it stands, a record 16.3 million people signed up for coverage under the ACA marketplaces, seniors are saving on insulin and vaccine costs, and the uninsured rate has reached an all time low. 

The event comes ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union address, where he will celebrate the administration’s accomplishments and outline further action to lower costs and improve care for people across the nation. Republicans, on the other hand, are doubling down on their war on health care by raising premiums, ending Medicare and Medicaid as we know it, reversing recent coverage gains, and hiking prescription drug costs for the American people. 

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Linda Hamacher, patient advocate
Randie Snow, patient advocate
Leslie Dach, Chair of Protect Our Care

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHERE: Register for the Event Here

WHEN: Monday, February 6, 2023 at 12:30 PM ET // 9:30 AM PT

 ***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6 AT 12:30 PM ET // 9:30 AM PT***

Senator Wyden, Rep. Neal, and Protect Our Care to Celebrate Lower Health Care Costs and Discuss Need to Protect and Strengthen the Inflation Reduction Act

Washington, DC — On Monday, February 6, 2023 at 12:30 PM ET, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) will join patient advocates and Protect Our Care for a virtual press conference to discuss how Democrats have delivered the most important health care improvements since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expanding affordable coverage, driving down prescription drug costs, strengthening Medicaid for moms and kids, and reducing inequities in care. As it stands, a record 16.3 million people signed up for coverage under the ACA marketplaces, seniors are saving on insulin and vaccine costs, and the uninsured rate has reached an all time low. 

The event comes ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union address, where he will celebrate the administration’s accomplishments and outline further action to lower costs and improve care for people across the nation. Republicans, on the other hand, are doubling down on their war on health care by raising premiums, ending Medicare and Medicaid as we know it, reversing recent coverage gains, and hiking prescription drug costs for the American people. 

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
U.S. Representative Richard E. Neal (D-MA)
Linda Hamacher, patient advocate
Randie Snow, patient advocate
Leslie Dach, Chair of Protect Our Care

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHERE: Register for the Event Here

WHEN: Monday, February 6, 2023 at 12:30 PM ET // 9:30 AM PT

Repealing the Inflation Reduction Act Means Raising Premiums, Hiking Prescription Drug Costs, and Worsening Care for Seniors

Washington DC — Yesterday, U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) introduced legislation to fully repeal the Inflation Reduction Act. After running on repealing the historic legislation, Republicans are making good on this promise. Backed by major conservative groups including Heritage Action and Americans for Prosperity, the GOP plan would raise premiums, ban Medicare from negotiating drug prices, reverse recent coverage gains, exacerbate health inequities, and hike prescription drug costs for seniors. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement: 

“Republicans want to go back to the status quo of hard-working families struggling to make ends meet due to outrageous health costs. The GOP have said time and time again they want to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act.  They actually campaigned on it. This attempt isn’t just a one-off – it is backed by key core right-wing groups that will determine Republican priorities for years to come. This bill to repeal the hard-fought health care wins would be a disaster for the American people who have already started to see the benefits and have finally gotten a breath of relief.”

What Repealing the Inflation Reduction Act Means for American Health Care

• GONE: Premium savings for 13 million Americans covered under the ACA — averaging $2,400 per family. 
• GONE: Medicare’s power to negotiate lower costs for the most popular and expensive prescription drugs.
• GONE: Prescription drug savings for seniors, including a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap and protections from Big Pharma’s price hikes. 
• GONE: Free vaccines for seniors, including shingles and pneumonia. 
• GONE: $35 monthly insulin caps for Medicare beneficiaries. 

Republicans Campaigned For Office On A Promise To Repeal The Inflation Reduction Act

HEADLINE: “House GOP Eyes Repeal Of Dems’ Drug Pricing Law” [Axios, 9/23/22] 

HEADLINE: Senate Republican bill would repeal Democratic drug pricing law [The Hill, 10/7/22] 

HEADLINE: GOP previews repeal redux [Politico, 10/28/22] 

Ways And Means Chairman Jason Smith Said He Would Prioritize “Reversing” The Inflation Reduction Act.  “As of now, the top two contenders to lead the Ways and Means Committee are Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), ranking Republican of the House Banking Committee, and Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), who is seen as the Republican next in line. […]  Smith told Axios in a phone interview he thinks Republicans should leverage debt limit negotiations to ‘reverse’ the administration’s ‘radical’ policies — including by sending a bill gutting the Democratic agenda to President Biden’s desk and daring him to reject it. ‘If Republicans are trying to cut spending, surely he wouldn’t try to default. If we were trying to bring down inflation … trying to secure our border, surely he wouldn’t default,’ Smith said.”  [Axios, 9/29/22] 

Rep. Kevin Brady Said Repealing The Inflation Reduction Act Was A “Top Priority” For Republicans In Congress.  “Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, indicated repealing the drug pricing law is a likely agenda item. ‘Because those drug provisions are so dangerous, by discouraging investment in life-saving cures, I would imagine that will be a top priority for Republicans in the new session,’ he said.” [Axios, 9/23/22] 

Rep. Buddy Carter Said “Undoing” Prescription Drug Cost Reductions In The Inflation Reduction Act Was A Top Priority.  “Buddy Carter: We’ve been asking that question not only about student debt loans, but also about a number of initiatives that have been instigated and put into place by the Biden administration, just like in the Inflation Acceleration Act that I mentioned before with the prescription drug pricing. That is something I’m very interested in as a pharmacist. I’ve been asking my colleagues, ‘How are we going to undo that when we get into the majority?’” [“Cavuto Coast to Coast,” Fox Business, 9/1/22] 

GOP Attacks on Medicaid Continue As GOP Eyes Cuts

Republicans have declared war on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. They are promising to defund all three programs and repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s provisions to lower drug costs under Medicare and make Affordable Care Act coverage more affordable through premium tax credits. But in many ways, their biggest target appears to be Medicaid. Over 90 million Americans receive their care through Medicaid. Medicaid has been proven time and time again to save lives, increase coverage and – in turn – access to needed care, and help reduce racial, rural, and other health disparities. Republican attacks on Medicaid are especially harmful for communities of color, rural Americans, people with disabilities, and low-income families.

How The GOP Is Threatening Medicaid:

• Promising draconian cuts to Medicaid in debt ceiling and appropriations negotiations
• Attempting to abruptly end the Public Health Emergency, which could throw 5 to 14 million people off Medicaid coverage
• Refusing to expand Medicaid in the 11 holdout states with Republican legislatures causing hospital closures in rural America due to lack of funding
• Committing to repeal the Affordable Care Act and its provisions to expand Medicaid adopted by 39 states 

Medicaid Saves Lives

Thousands Of Lives Saved Each Year. As of September 2022, over 90 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid. At least 19,000 lives were saved due to the ACA’s Medicaid expansion. An additional 7,000 lives per year could be saved if the 11 Republican hold out states expand Medicaid coverage. A study published in the Journal of Health Economics found that Medicaid expansion reduced mortality in non-elderly adults by nearly four percent. 

Expansion Of Lifesaving Care. Medicaid expansion has helped patients access preventive care, including colon cancer screenings. Expansion also increased patient access to kidney transplants and made diabetes medication more affordable for low-income patients. The program was also tied to earlier diagnosis of colorectal cancer and reducing diabetes-related amputations. Expansion is associated with improvements in access to care and outcomes related to substance use disorder and mental health care. 

Medicaid Reduces Racial Disparities In Health Care

Reduced Racial Disparities In Coverage And Access. Increasing Medicaid access is the single most important action available to expand coverage and, together with other actions that address access as a driver of health and other determinants of health, reduce racial disparities in health care. The ACA led to historic reductions in racial disparities in access to health care, but racial gaps in insurance coverage narrowed the most in states that adopted Medicaid expansion. States that expanded their Medicaid programs saw a 51 percent reduction in the gap between uninsured white and Black adults after expansion, and a 45 percent reduction between white and Hispanic adults. 60 percent of Americans who would gain coverage if the remaining 11 hold out states expanded Medicaid are people of color. 

Medicaid Coverage Is Critical To Improving Maternal Health. The United States is only one of two nations that has reported an increase in maternal mortality since 2000. Women of color consistently experience higher rates of maternal mortality than white women, with the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities finding this to be the result of a combination of factors, including life-long toxic stress resulting from racism and the impacts of structural racism in the health care system. If post-partum Medicaid coverage was expanded to a full year, more than 720,000 individuals would receive quality coverage.This is an important step combined with other efforts to address peripartum health outcomes, like the Momnibus legislation. In the 11 states that have refused Medicaid expansion, eight had more than 40 percent of births covered by Medicaid. Medicaid covers 65 percent of all births to Black mothers and 65 percent of women of reproductive age living in the coverage gap are women of color. 

Better Access To Care. Medicaid expansion reduced racial disparities in cancer care and resulted in earlier diagnosis and treatment for Black patients. In 2021, over 11 million Black Americans were covered by Medicaid, with an additional 2.4 million stuck in the coverage gap.

Medicaid Reduces Rural Disparities In Health Care

Medicaid Helps Rural Hospitals Stay Open. Rural hospitals in Medicaid expansion states are 62 percent less likely to close. The two most common types of supplemental Medicaid payments are disproportionate share hospital payments, that pay hospitals for uncompensated care for Medicaid and uninsured patients, and upper limit payments, which supplement the gap between fee-for-service Medicaid base payments and the amount that Medicare covers. Some states are also testing the use of global hospital budgets to increase care and improve health outcomes in rural hospitals.

Closure Of Specialized Care And Obstetrical Services. Some hospitals opt to close specific services or facilities that cause patients in rural areas to have to travel further for specialized care. On average, when a rural hospital closes patients have to travel over 20 miles further to access inpatient or emergency care. A 2021 study found that fewer than half of all rural counties in the United States had hospital-based obstetric care. When hospitals face financial hardship, obstetric services are among the first to be cut. African American and Native American women in rural areas are particularly at risk. African American and Native American women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.

Rural Hospitals Boost Local Economies. Besides hospitals providing higher paying jobs in the health care sector, rural hospitals also stimulate the local economies of other industries. Hospitals purchase goods or services from local private businesses which helps stabilize and reinforces the local economy. In turn, strong private sector employment allows for more tax dollars for public goods, such as education and safety services.

Medicaid Benefits Children

Almost Half Of Births Are Covered By Medicaid. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 4 in 10 births are covered by Medicaid. Under the American Rescue Plan, states were given the option to extend coverage to new mothers for one year postpartum, which will improve maternal health outcomes. Out of expansion states, 2 states, Texas and Wisconsin, have limited postpartum coverage. 

When Parents Have Medicaid, Their Children Are More Likely To Have Regular Care. The children of parents enrolled in Medicaid are 29 percent more likely to receive a well-child visit. This relationship is even stronger among families enrolled in Medicaid with household incomes at the federal poverty line as they are 45 percent more likely to receive a well-child visit. 

Medicaid Helps Those In Need Of Long Term Care

Low-Income Seniors With Medicare Depend On Medicaid For Long-Term Care. Nearly 70 percent of people aged 65 and older will need some form of long-term care for at least 3 years.  Medicaid is a critical provider of home and community based care that are essential to keep loved ones at home with their families and neighbors. Without Medicaid, many seniors would not be able to afford these needed services with Medicare alone. 84 percent of individuals in nursing facilities covered by Medicaid in 2019 were dually eligible, with Medicaid covering costs once Medicare benefits have been depleted.

In celebration of Black History Month, Protect Our Care is highlighting important steps under the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act to reduce disparities in access to quality, comprehensive health care by expanding coverage, reducing costs, and improving care in the communities where it is most needed.

Protect Our Care’s dedication to protecting these coverage gains and making health care even more affordable and more equitable for the American people is driven by a broader commitment to tackling systemic inequities that persist due to racism and discrimination. The Biden-Harris administration and Democrats in Congress have been working to advance health equity through measures that address health care access and quality as a driver of health such as lowering prescription drug costs, expanding Medicaid coverage, and tackling the maternal health crisis. Democratic policymakers have also championed multi-sector policies that are also needed to address basic conditions that affect health and related outcomes, particularly for Black Americans and other marginalized communities. Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:

“This Black History Month we are celebrating the continuous progress made by lawmakers to make health care more affordable, accessible, and equitable and a right for every American. Leaders like Vice President Kamala Harris, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood, are taking critical steps to secure health care for every American all while making history. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress have promised to continue their ongoing threats to roll back this progress by voting to dismantle safeguards for Medicaid unwinding, threatening to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, and blocking a universal $35 insulin cap — all of which disproportionately harm communities of color.”  

Lowering Prescription Costs

Millions of people in Medicare still struggle to pay for life-saving prescriptions or treatments, with Black Medicare beneficiaries being nearly twice as likely than White Medicare beneficiaries to stop taking a prescription due to cost. This is a two-fold problem of drug companies continuing to increase prices and Black seniors having to foot the bill for these price increases. From 2016 to 2021 alone, costs for specialty prescription drugs increased by 43 percent while some drug prices increased by rates of over 500 percent. The Inflation Reduction Act addresses these outrageous skyrocketing prices by requiring that manufacturers whose drug prices increase faster than that of the inflation rate will have to pay Medicare a rebate. This will not only save the government billions of dollars, but will drastically reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries. As well, the Inflation Reduction Act will implement by 2025 a $2,000 annual cap for out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs, saving Black families on average $1,216 every year.

Capping Insulin Costs

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Black adults are almost 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. As well, around 29 percent of adults aged 65 and older are diagnosed with diabetes, making it the most common chronic illness in the United States, with 1.6 times more Black seniors having been diagnosed than White seniors, despite 74 percent of seniors being white and only 9 percent identifying as African American. Insulin manufacturers have raised retail prices over 600 percent in the last 20 years, limiting the ability of low-income diabetics, who are disproportionately people of color, from accessing lifesaving treatment. Under the Inflation Reduction Act though, insulin prices have now been capped at $35 a month. This will save each individual Black senior who uses Medicaid up to $1,500 annually.

Expanding Vaccine Programs

White Americans are nearly twice as likely to have received the shingles vaccine than Black Americans and this is not the only area where vaccination programs highlight a consistent racial disparity. Much of these inequities can be traced back to cost and lack of access to this vital form of preventive health care. The Inflation Reduction Act aims to begin tackling this vast issue by making more vaccines available to Medicare Part D recipients with no cost-sharing. Free vaccines for more Black seniors means reducing hospitalizations, fewer complications in other health problems, and a more sustainable and equitable health system.

Bringing Down Uninsurance Rates

According to HHS reports, an estimated 2,954,000 more Americans, including nearly half a million Black Americans, will have access to health insurance next year compared to without the Inflation Reduction Act. Studies show that individuals having health insurance leads to more access to care, reduced financial strains, and better health outcomes  – all of which advance health equity. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, racial disparities in insurance rates have been falling and President Biden’s promise to build upon it has led to some of the lowest uninsured rates in history.

Extending Premium Savings

The premium savings continued through the American Rescue Act and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act have made more than 65 percent of uninsured Black adults eligible for zero dollar premium plans. Nearly 75 percent of uninsured Black adults can now also access plans for less than $50 a month. The Center on Budget Policy and Priorities estimates the continuation of these increased savings will cause a sharp decline in the uninsured rate across every racial group, with a projected one in three uninsured Black adults gaining coverage.

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2 AT 10:30AM***

The Inflation Reduction Act Is Keeping Health Care Costs Low for Pennsylvanians

Philadelphia, PA – Today at 10:30AM, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Zach Sherman, Executive Director of Pennie, The Pennsylvania Health Access Network, and health care advocates will join Protect Our Care Pennsylvania to release new Pennie enrollment numbers and the number of Pennsylvanians that will benefit from the lower insurance premiums in 2023 thanks to the Advanced Premium Tax Credits extended under the Inflation Reduction Act. On average, families saved thousands of dollars a year on health care, giving them much-needed breathing room to pay for other essentials like rent, groceries, and gas.  

These savings are a game-changer for Pennsylvanians — saving an average middle-class family of four in Pennsylvania $4,763 on their yearly premiums. Pennie will also announce that in Pennsylvania, 371,516 people have signed up for health insurance on the commonwealth’s exchange, including 64,872 new enrollees in the latest open enrollment period signaling the continued popularity of the state-operated health insurance marketplace.

WHO:
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis
Zach Sherman, Executive Director of Pennie
Antoinette Kraus, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Health Access Network
Michael Berman, Protect our Care Pennsylvania State Director
Health Care Advocates

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHEN: Thursday, February 2nd at 10:30AM 

WHERE: Register to join the Zoom event (Registration required) 

Harris Previously Served as Chief of Staff to Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Chief of Staff to Two Assistant Secretaries at HHS, and Aide to Senate HELP Committee Chairmen Tom Harkin and Ted Kennedy 

Washington, DC — Andrea Harris is joining Protect Our Care on February 6 as Director of Policy Programs. She brings extensive experience from her service in the legislative and executive branches, including expertise in health coverage, drug pricing, and hospital pricing policy, which will further Protect Our Care’s work to make high-quality, affordable, equitable health care a right, and not a privilege, for everyone in America. Read Andrea’s full biography here. 

Harris will lead Protect Our Care’s work to support implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act and protect it from GOP efforts to repeal or sabotage the law. Harris’s work will be central to POC’s ongoing efforts to build on the Inflation Reduction Act and to further reduce drug costs and permanently extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that made coverage more affordable for millions of people. Harris will also help organize against efforts to overturn key components of the ACA through the courts, including the law’s provision guaranteeing free preventive care relied on by millions of Americans. Additionally, Harris will support POC’s advocacy for closing the Medicaid coverage gap, reducing harmful inequities in care, and strengthening coverage for mothers, children, and families across the country. 

“Andrea has dedicated her career to making quality, affordable health care a right for every American. She has been on the front lines of enacting, implementing, and strengthening the Affordable Care Act,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Andrea played a critical role in making health insurance more affordable as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Andrea’s experience working for health care leaders in Congress and at the Department of Health and Human Services will be a tremendous asset to Protect Our Care’s work to make high-quality, affordable coverage and equitable care a reality across America. I had the privilege of working with Andrea at HHS and am delighted to have her bring her talents to Protect Our Care.” 

“Andrea understands how to develop, enact, and implement policies that save lives and make health care more accessible, and she’s done it,” said U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14). “I am grateful she led my team to introduce and advance the Health Care Affordability Act and Black Maternal Health Momnibus, and I know she will continue to be an asset to the American people at Protect Our Care as they push to lower health care costs for families.”

“Everyone deserves high-quality, affordable health care as a fundamental right; it shouldn’t be for the privileged few,” said Andrea Harris. “This belief has guided my career, and over the past decade Democrats in Congress and the White House have made considerable gains in making coverage and prescription drugs more affordable and accessible for millions of Americans. As the GOP constantly seeks to overturn these benefits, the team at Protect Our Care fights tirelessly to protect and strengthen health care and prescription drug affordability. I am honored to join them and be part of this essential mission.”

Andrea Harris Bio

Andrea Harris has 15 years of experience in federal health policy and has held senior roles in the legislative and executive branches. She most recently served as Chief of Staff to Rep. Lauren Underwood, a nurse and health policy expert, helping enact legislation to lower health care and prescription drug costs, and improve maternal health outcomes and end disparities. During the Obama Administration, Andrea served as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary for Health and Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary for Legislation at HHS, helping implement the Affordable Care Act and fund family planning programs. She began her career in public service working on the Affordable Care Act, women’s health, and children’s health as an aide to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairmen Ted Kennedy and Tom Harkin. Andrea earned a Master’s degree in health policy and economics from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree from UCLA.