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August 2024

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In News

Recognizing the Biden-Harris Administration’s Advancements in Health Equity on the 61st Anniversary of the March on Washington

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Walking Through the White House

Vice President Harris Is a Health Care Champion, Delivering Lower Costs and Better Care For Black Families

On this historic day 61 years ago, over 250,000 people from all over the country gathered in our nation’s capital to advocate for Black Americans’ civil and economic rights. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous speech, “I Have A Dream,” stating, “Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning,” and he was right, the March on Washington proved to be a catalyst for landmark civil rights protections like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Still, more than half a century later, severe inequities persist – particularly in health care. Black Americans face higher infant and maternal mortality rates and shorter life expectancies than their white counterparts. Despite huge gains in coverage following the passage of the Affordable Care Act and Inflation Reduction Act, racial and ethnic disparities remain.

Vice President Kamala Harris has always worked towards making sure Americans have quality health care no matter where they live or the color of their skin. While serving in the Senate, Harris made Black maternal health a key part of her legislative agenda, and as Vice President, she has worked to urgently address the Black maternal health crisis, successfully pushing to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage to a full year in 48 states and Washington D.C. The Biden-Harris administration has also awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to community-based organizations dedicated to addressing the underlying causes of poor maternal health outcomes, and established a maternal mental health hotline to help mothers and their families. Additionally, Harris has fought tirelessly to protect and expand the Affordable Care Act and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities by increasing access to preventive care. Since 2010, Black Americans’ uninsured rates have dropped by half. Since the Biden-Harris administration took office, enrollment in ACA plans through HealthCare.gov among Black Americans has roughly doubled to more than 1.7 million. 

As Republicans in Congress make their priorities clear by turning their backs on affordable health care, working to roll back some of these lifesaving and affordable programs and pushing for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, President Biden and Vice President Harris are doing everything in their power to reduce health disparities and improve access to quality health care for all Americans.

Vice President Harris Has Prioritized Health Equity and Black Maternal Health. As Vice President, Harris has made health equity, particularly maternal mortality, a key part of her policy agenda. Maternal mortality in the U.S. is highest in the industrialized world, with around one-third of maternal deaths occurring during the postpartum period. Studies show that at least a factor of the incredibly high rate of perinatal maternal mortality is due to coverage disruptions during the first year after pregnancy, something that disproportionately affects people of color. Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women in the United States and maternal mortality rates — already higher than any other developed country — are still dramatically increasing. Even so, an estimated 80 percent of these deaths are preventable, making the passage of legislation addressing this crisis even more critical. The Biden-Harris administration has taken several critical steps to address the maternal mortality crisis:

  • Vice President Harris Released A Blueprint For Addressing The Maternal Health Crisis Recommending 50 Actions For Over A Dozen Agencies To Take. The Biden-Harris administration released a Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis in June 2022 leading with a letter from Vice President Harris stating, “[F]ar too many women experience pain, neglect, and loss during what should be one of the most joyous times of their lives. For certain women, the risk is much higher. Regardless of income or education level, Black women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications. […] The White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis contains 50 actions that over a dozen agencies will undertake to help improve maternal care. My hope is that the steps outlined in this Blueprint will move us closer to a future where every woman and every mother has the care she needs to thrive.”
  • Vice President Harris Pushed For Expanded Postpartum Medicaid Coverage. The Vice President challenged states to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from only two months to a full year, allowing for over 720,000 people annually to see expanded coverage who wouldn’t have been able to access it otherwise. Thanks to these efforts, the Biden-Harris administration has successfully expanded the number of states offering or planning to offer a full year of postpartum Medicaid coverage from 13 states in 2021 to 48 states and the District of Columbia.
  • Expanded Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Saves The Lives of Black Mothers. Over half of pregnancy-related deaths – the vast majority of which are preventable – occur between 7 days and 12 months after pregnancy, making postpartum health care coverage an essential tool in addressing maternal mortality. About 40 percent of births are covered by Medicaid nationwide, and states that have expanded Medicaid had lower maternal mortality rates than others for all racial and ethnic groups.
  • HHS Awarded More Than $103 Million For A New Maternal Mental Health Task Force and Nearly $90 Million To Expand Maternal Health Resources. In September 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration awarded $103 million in public funding for a new maternal mental health and substance use disorder talk force to improve prevention, screening, diagnosis, intervention, treatment, community practices, communication, and community engagement surrounding mental health equity and trauma. A portion of the funding is also earmarked for a national public education campaign to increase awareness of postpartum depression symptoms and demonstrate the many ways for new mothers to access care. HHS also announced that it would be awarding nearly $90 million in additional funding for Health Resources and Services Administration programs focused on improving access to maternal health services.

While Serving In The Senate, Harris Made Black Maternal Health A Key Part of Her Legislative Agenda. As a Senator, Harris was involved with the creation and proposal of the first Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act to address this crisis in maternal health. The “Momnibus” would direct HHS to establish task forces to address social determinants of health and award grants to innovations in maternity care and maternal mortality tracking. It also would expand federal nutrition programs by increasing the postpartum and breastfeeding periods and reduce specific state funding to jurisdictions that have no laws restricting constraints on incarcerated pregnant people. Every year since 2020, the Momnibus Act has been reintroduced in the Senate. It is perhaps the most essential central piece of legislation existing to address maternal mortality rates and health equity. 

As Senator and California Attorney General, Harris Fought To Defend The Affordable Care Act (ACA). Harris filed 10 amicus briefs defending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as California Attorney General, and as Senator co-sponsored 14 pieces of legislation protecting and expanding on the ACA, including legislation expanding preventive care requirements for private and public health insurance. Kamala Harris has a long and consistent history of fighting to defend and expand the ACA.

  • The ACA Has Improved Infant and Maternal Health Outcomes For Black Americans. Whether coverage comes from Medicaid expansion or increased access to affordable coverage on the ACA Marketplace, coverage improves infant and maternal mortality outcomes. One study found that reductions in maternal mortality in expansion states were concentrated among Black mothers, “suggesting that expansion could be contributing to decreasing racial disparities in maternal mortality.” Expansion has also been tied to improving health outcomes for Black babies, significantly reducing racial disparities in low birth weight and premature birth. 
  • Access To Preventive Care Through ACA Medicaid Expansion Has Reduced Health Disparities. A 2017 study called preventive care “one of the most important health care strategies to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment, improve quality of life, and prevent premature death.” Access to preventive care through Medicaid expansion reduced racial disparities in cancer care and resulted in earlier diagnosis and treatment for Black patients. According to the Center for American Progress, Black women were more likely to receive care because of the ACA.
  • The Biden-Harris Administration Announced $100 Million Grant to Boost ACA Outreach In Underserved Communities. Earlier this week, the Biden-Harris administration announced a new $100 million investment in the Navigators program, a network of organizations vital to helping underserved communities, consumers, and small businesses find and enroll in quality, affordable health coverage through ACA Marketplaces. Navigators have focused their outreach on the 20 percent of marketplace enrollees from underserved communities, including racial and ethnic minorities. Navigators offer free signup assistance and played a key role in the record-shattering 2024 enrollment of 21.4 million Americans, including an estimated 1.7 million Black Americans.

As Vice President, Harris Cast Tie-Breaking Votes For The American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act. In 2021 and 2022, Vice President Harris cast the tie-breaking votes which allowed both the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act to pass the Senate and become law.

  • The American Rescue Plan Improved Coverage For Black Americans. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced and expanded premium tax credits, Black Americans were 59.2 percent more likely to have gained health coverage in states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA. From 2020 to 2022 there was an increase of 49 percent in the number of Black Americans enrolled in ACA coverage.
  • The Inflation Reduction Act Lowers Drug Costs and Premiums For Black Americans. Two years after the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, around 19.7 million Americans are saving on average $700 a month on health insurance, nearly 82 million Americans have access to no-cost vaccines and preventive care through Medicaid and CHIP, 10 million seniors received free vaccinations in 2023 alone, and Medicare negotiated down the prices of 10 drugs taken by over 9 million seniors. On top of this, the Inflation Reduction Act capped monthly insulin costs at $35 a month for seniors on Medicare Part D and will continue to negotiate lower drug prices for 80 drugs by 2030. Without Vice President Harris’ deciding vote, millions of Black Americans would be paying more for health care, with some not having any access at all. Black seniors on Medicare are roughly 1.5 times as likely as their white counterparts to have trouble affording medications, and about 2 times as likely to not fill needed prescriptions due to cost. 
ashoup
In News, Statement

BREAKING: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Grantees Of $500 Million Investment Into ACA Navigators

Historic Boost in Funding Will Help Secure Affordable Coverage for Millions of Americans 

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Biden-Harris administration announced the 44 organizations in the 28 states using HealthCare.gov that will receive the first five-year investment in Navigator funding in history. The $500 million investment will increase the number of people with affordable coverage by supporting outreach, education, and enrollment efforts to make sure people know how to enroll in a plan and stay covered. This is another investment made by the Biden-Harris administration to strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and ensure people have the health care they need. 

Navigators help connect people in underserved communities to health care, ensuring that language barriers or confusing paperwork doesn’t stand in the way of families getting covered. This year, a record 21.4 million Americans enrolled in ACA coverage, with the average family saving $2,400 a year thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are health care champions. The Biden-Harris administration is working around the clock to ensure everyone can get the health care they need for years to come. When Donald Trump was in the White House, he tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and when he failed, his administration deliberately sabotaged the ACA, drastically reducing enrollment. As a result, President Biden inherited a broken system that left Navigators underfunded and millions of people uninsured. Now, thanks to the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to expanding access to affordable health care, more people are covered than ever before. Millions more have the peace of mind knowing they can go to the doctor when they get sick without worrying about affording other necessities like food or rent. This long-term investment not only gives Navigators the resources they need to help families enroll in coverage, but it also protects them from the MAGA agenda to cut funding and sabotage the ACA. The Biden-Harris administration has delivered another health care win for the American people.” 

Background

Trump’s Navigator Funding Cuts Contributed To People Losing Their Coverage. Trump cut the ACA Navigator program by over 80 percent while he was in office, from $63 million in the final year of the Obama administration to just $10 million per year from 2018 to 2020. During the Trump administration, enrollment in ACA coverage dropped by over 1.27 million people and a KFF consumer assistance survey found that there was a significant need for enrollment help while navigating the complex application and enrollment process.. 

Project 2025 Will Raise Health Care Costs Under The ACA. Repealing the Inflation Reduction Act, as proposed in Project 2025’s Mandate for Leadership, will eliminate premium tax credits that make health care more accessible and less expensive. Getting rid of tax credits threatens coverage for the over 20 million who buy their own coverage through the Marketplace and receive tax credits to lower their health care premiums. Ending the tax credits would mean a typical 60-year-old couple making $80,000 per year would see their premiums triple to over $24,000 per year and premiums for a family of four making $125,000 would increase by $7,676.

Biden-Harris Administration Has Made Historic Investments In The Navigator Program. In addition to today’s announcement, ahead of the 2022 open enrollment cycle, the Biden-Harris Administration invested $80 million to the Navigator program, quadrupling the Navigator budget at that time and helping increase enrollment that year from just over 12 million to 14.5 million people. For the 2023 open enrollment cycle, the administration invested a historic near $100 million into the Navigator program to help consumers navigate the application and enrollment process for the ACA Marketplace, Medicaid, and CHIP to make health care more affordable and accessible to everyone.

ashoup
In News

Kamala Harris Is A Health Care Champion

Watch Protect Our Care’s New Video Here. 

Vice President Kamala Harris has proven to be a health care champion throughout her career in public service. She has fought tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of people across the country. Harris voted time and time again to protect Americans’ health care, to ensure those with pre-existing conditions have access to affordable health care, and to lower costs for American families. Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement: 

“Thanks to Kamala Harris, millions of people no longer have to decide between their health care or prescription drugs and putting food on the table. She is a champion for lowering health care costs, expanding access to affordable coverage, improving maternal health, and protecting reproductive rights. Her health care agenda is a win for middle-class families and a win for our nation’s future — a stark contrast to MAGA Republicans who want to go backwards and try once again to repeal the ACA, rip away protections for pre-existing conditions, and raise prescription drug costs for seniors.” 

Kamala Harris’s 100-day agenda prioritizes delivering lower prices for middle class families. As Democratic nominee, Harris has announced some of her plans for the first 100 days in office, including actions to further lower drug costs and provide relief for medical debt. Harris has called for:

  • Capping The Cost Of Insulin At $35 Per Month For Everyone, Not Just Seniors. The Inflation Reduction Act capped insulin costs at $35 per month for seniors, and now Harris wants to pass these savings on to everyone. 
  • Accelerating The Speed Of Medicare Drug Price Negotiation. Building on the accomplishments of the Inflation Reduction Act, Harris would allow Medicare to negotiate the price of drugs faster, so prices can come down faster for seniors.
  • Increase Competition And Demand Transparency. Harris plans to hold accountable pharmaceutical companies that block competition and promote abusive practices that hurt small pharmacies and raise prices on Americans.
  • Cancel Medical Debt For Millions Of Americans. Harris’s plan builds on her accomplishments as vice president in removing medical debt from nearly all Americans’ credit reports and securing American Rescue Plan funds to cancel $7 billion of medical debt for up to 3 million Americans by the end of 2026.

As Vice President, Harris casted the deciding vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act. She is responsible for lowering prescription drug prices, making tax credits available to lower premium costs for families, and capping insulin copays at $35 per month.

  • Gave Medicare The Power To Negotiate Prescription Drug Prices. Medicare drug price negotiation will save taxpayers billions of dollars and lower costs for the most popular and expensive prescription drugs. By 2030, 80 of the most expensive prescription drugs will have lower prices because of these negotiations. In the first year alone, these newly lowered prices will save seniors $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs and will save taxpayers $6 billion.
  • Lowered Costs Of Health Care Premiums For Millions Of Families. The Inflation Reduction Act lowered premium costs for millions of Americans through 2025 by increasing financial assistance for people who buy coverage on their own and making tax credit subsidies more widely available to middle-class families, ensuring people purchasing coverage through the ACA marketplaces will not pay more than 8.5 percent of their income for coverage. Families save an average of $2,400 a year on their health insurance premiums thanks to this provision.
  • Capped Insulin Copays At $35 Per Month. The Inflation Reduction Act capped insulin prices at no more than $35 starting January 2023 — saving seniors up to $1,500 annually. In response to calls from President Biden, the three largest insulin manufacturers announced $35 monthly out-of-pocket cost caps, lowering costs of about 90% of the insulin on the market.

As a senator from California, Harris has repeatedly helped defeat Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and remove protections for people with pre-existing conditions. She also supported lowering prescription drug prices, which became a reality with Harris casting the deciding vote as vice president and passing the Inflation Reduction Act. 

  • Harris Helped Protect The ACA. In 2017, then Senator Harris voted against the Obamacare Repeal and Replace Act, the Better Care Reconciliation Act, and the “Skinny Repeal.”  All of these bills would have stripped health care from millions of people and increased premium costs.
  • Harris Took A Stand For People With Pre-Existing Conditions. Harris authored an op-ed with CNN in 2017 that illustrated how getting rid of protections for pre-existing conditions would have devastating effects on communities of color. People of color are more than twice as likely to die from diabetes as their white counterparts and Black people experience higher rates of heart disease than white people. Getting rid of pre-existing condition protections, as proposed by Republicans, would disproportionately impact communities of color’s access to affordable health care. 
  • Harris Blocked The MAGA Plan To Expand Junk Plans That Don’t Cover Pre-Existing Conditions. Harris cosponsored two resolutions to overturn Trump administration health care policies that allow the expansion of short term health care plans that do not have to guarantee coverage for pre-existing conditions or cover essential health benefits. 

As a senator from California, Harris protected women’s rights. Maternal and reproductive health freedoms were a key pillar of her work in Congress. Harris continued to fight for women as vice president and pledges to as the Democratic nominee.

  • Harris Fought For Maternal Health Protections.  Harris was involved with creation and proposing of the first Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act to address this crisis in maternal health. The “Momnibus” would direct HHS to establish task forces to address social determinants of health and award grants to innovations in maternity care and maternal mortality tracking. It also would expand federal nutrition programs through increasing the postpartum and breastfeeding periods and reduce specific state funding to jurisdictions which have no laws restricting constraints on incarcerated pregnant people. Every year since 2020, the Momnibus Act has been reintroduced in the Senate. It is perhaps the most essential central piece of legislation existing to address maternal mortality rates and health equity. 
  • Harris Protected Reproductive Freedoms And Abortion Access. Harris co-sponsored 14 pieces of legislation that would expand and protect the reproductive rights of Americans. From supporting the Women’s Health Protection Act to protecting access to birth control to fighting for the expansion and protection of insurance coverage for abortions, Harris has a remarkably consistent record when it comes to ensuring Americans have access to quality and affordable reproductive health care.

As Attorney General of California, Harris protected the ACA and stood up to big drug companies. Since the beginning of her career, Harris played a key role in making the ACA what it is today and ensuring pharmaceutical companies are held responsible for exploitative practices.

  • Harris Filed 10 Amicus Briefs Defending The ACA As California Attorney General. As Attorney General of California, Harris defended the constitutionality of the ACA in court by arguing the ACA regulates interstate commerce. In the 2011 press release of one of these filings, Harris stated, “Health care reform saves lives, and that is why I am determined to protect this law.” Harris also argued for the protection of contraception mandates, stating, “The right to healthcare services is justly protected under federal law, and  the Supreme Court should uphold the ACA’s common-sense accommodation for religious organizations and protect women’s access to essential health care.”
  • Harris Held Pharmaceutical Companies Accountable Through Nearly $7.2 Billion in Fines. Then-Attorney General Harris broke records throughout her term when it came to settlements holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for deceptive and illegal practices. She was involved in the second largest recovery from a pharmaceutical company and the largest consumer protection settlement reached with a pharmaceutical company. Of the billions she was able to recover due to inflated drug prices and illegal marketing practices, $2.2 billion came from Johnson and Johnson, whose drugs Xarelto, Stelara, Imbruvica are currently up for Medicare price negotiation, $71 million came from Amgen, whose drug Enbrel is currently up for Medicare price negotiation, $68.5 million came from AstraZeneca, whose drug Farxiga is currently up for Medicare price negotiation, and $19.5 million came from Bristol-Myers Squibb, whose drug Eliquis is currently up for Medicare price negotiation.
ashoup
In News

The Biden-Harris Administration Delivered on a Lifetime of Health Care

From Birth to Retirement, the Biden-Harris Administration Has Lowered Costs and Increased Coverage

Since the start, the Biden-Harris administration has been committed to making health care a right, not a privilege, and ensuring people across the nation have the same quality health care no matter where they live or the color of their skin — throughout their entire lives. Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, more people have health insurance coverage than ever before. Whether it’s lowering the cost of drugs, capping the monthly cost of insulin, or ensuring millions of Americans have access to affordable health insurance, this administration has fought for everyday Americans and won. 

Meanwhile, Republicans are continuing a war on our health care system by trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Inflation Reduction Act, cut funding from critical programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and ban Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices. The MAGA Republican Project 2025, a dangerous policy roadmap for another Trump presidency, calls for full repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act’s prescription drug provisions that are saving Americans thousands of dollars on health care. In addition, big drug companies and their Republican allies are in court trying to ban Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices. They are determined to decimate our health care, leaving millions behind without coverage. 

Over the past four years, the Biden-Harris administration has made advancements in health care for all stages of life:

  • Birth: 
    • Launched a government-wide strategy for preventing maternal deaths and improving birth outcomes through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis. 
    • Signed legislation giving states the option to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to a full year. Currently, 47 states including DC have elected to extend Medicaid coverage for a full year postpartum.
    • Established the first National Maternal Mental Health Hotline to provide emotional support, resources, and referrals to pregnant and postpartum women and their loved ones. 
    • Invested $105 million in funding to support more than 100 community-based organizations working to improve maternal and infant health.
  • Childhood: 
    • Signed legislation to guarantee 12-month continuous coverage for children on Medicaid and CHIP once they are enrolled, ensuring millions of families have reliable, affordable health coverage.
    • Fixed the “family glitch,” which blocked millions of families, primarily women and children, from accessing affordable coverage from the ACA. The fix will expand coverage and lower health care costs for more than one million Americans.
    • Simplified how millions of Americans, including children, apply for and renew coverage through Medicaid, CHIP, and the Basic Health Program (BHP). The rule also applies new consumer protections from the ACA to Medicaid and CHIP enrollees, like banning lifetime limits and waiting periods.
  • Adult: 
    • Lowered health insurance costs for people buying coverage on their own through enhanced premium tax credits, making coverage affordable for more people than ever. 
    • Protected consumers and limited short-term junk plans that do not need to cover pre-existing conditions, which often use deceptive marketing practices and leave American families with staggering medical bills.
    • Protected Americans from surprise medical bills from emergency room visits, non-emergency out-of-network visits at in-network facilities, and air ambulance services for out-of-network providers.
  • Senior:
    • Capped insulin prices at no more than $35 monthly for all Medicare beneficiaries beginning in January 2023 — saving seniors up to $1,500 annually.
    • Limited annual out-of-pocket spending to $2,000 starting in 2025, giving over 46.6 million Americans with Medicare Part D more reassurance and financial stability.
    • Gave 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. 
    • Provided free vaccines, such as shingles and Tdap, at no cost starting in 2023.
    • Required drug companies to pay Medicare a rebate when they hike prices faster than the rate of inflation. This will not only save the government billions of dollars, but it will drastically reduce out-of-pocket costs for seniors and people with disabilities.
ashoup
In News

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Is A Health Care Champion

As Minnesota Governor Tim Walz prepares to take the DNC stage tonight, Protect Our Care is highlighting his demonstrated record of fighting to ensure that his constituents have access to affordable, high-quality health care. While in Congress, he helped pass the Affordable Care Act, and he has since worked to safeguard and build on its success. Walz has fought to protect Medicaid and Medicare, lower prescription drug costs, and protect access to reproductive health care.

“Governor Tim Walz is a health care champion,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “During his time in Congress, Walz played a key role in passing the Affordable Care Act, and he worked to defend the law from Donald Trump’s repeal efforts. As Governor, he continues to increase coverage, lower health care costs and fight for reproductive freedom. His career is defined by his efforts to improve the health and well-being of hardworking families.”

Passed, Safeguarded, and Built On The Affordable Care Act

Governor Tim Walz Oversaw Record Affordable Care Act Marketplace Enrollment. Walz has built on the Affordable Care Act, ensuring that eligible Minnesotans can enroll in affordable health care coverage offered through the state’s ACA Marketplace. Under his leadership, Walz oversaw record enrollment in ACA Marketplace coverage. More than 146,000 Minnesotans purchased coverage on the Minnesota ACA Marketplace for 2024 – an increase of 13 percent over 2023 – with 60 percent of people enrolled saving an average of $6,460 per year on health insurance premiums thanks to premium tax credits.

2017: While Serving In Congress, Tim Walz Helped Kill Trump’s Affordable Care Act Repeal. Tim Walz represented Minnesota’s southernmost 1st Congressional district from 2007 to 2019. While serving in the House of Representatives, Walz voted against the passage of Trump’s American Health Care Act (AHCA), which would have repealed the Affordable Care Act and replaced it with a much worse law. Approximately 1 in 2 people in America with pre-existing conditions would have lost protections for coverage and 23 million people would have lost coverage under this bill by 2026. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that the AHCA would have raised premiums by 20 percent. The negative economic impact of the AHCA would have caused 1.8 million people to lose their jobs by 2022.

2015: Tim Walz Helped Prevent A Total Repeal Of The Affordable Care Act. Walz voted against HR 596, an act “to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.” The bill also ordered House committees to develop a replacement that would “provide people with pre-existing conditions access to affordable health coverage,” but provided no specifics. 

2010: Tim Walz Helped Pass The Affordable Care Act. While serving in Congress, Walz voted for HR 3590, also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), in March 2010.  Walz celebrated passage of the bill because it provided protections for pre-existing conditions and helped make coverage more affordable for middle class families. 

Thanks to Walz and Democrats in Congress:

  • GAINED: Protections for more than 100 million Americans with pre-existing conditions.
  • GAINED: Medicaid expansion, which covers about 24 million people. 
  • GAINED: Quality, affordable coverage for over 21.3 million people who buy insurance on their own.
  • GAINED: 2.3 million adult children are able to stay on their parents’ insurance. 
  • GAINED: Ban on insurance companies charging women more than men.
  • GAINED: Ban on insurance companies having annual and lifetime caps on coverage.
  • GAINED: Requirements that insurance companies cover prescription drugs and maternity care.
  • GAINED: Premium tax credits that make premiums affordable for 80 percent of people who purchase health care on the Marketplace.
  • GAINED: Closing the Medicare ‘donut hole,’ which helps around 52 million seniors pay less for prescription drugs.
  • GAINED: Critical funding for rural hospitals. 
  • GAINED: Policies that help around 67 million people on Medicare have lower costs and better medical care.

Protecting Medicare & Medicaid

Governor Walz Has Fought To Preserve The Health Care Access Fund. While serving as Governor, Walz has fought to preserve the Health Care Access Fund, which 1.2 million Minnesotans rely upon for health care access.

2017: While Serving In Congress, Tim Walz Helped Kill Trump’s ACA Repeal, Which Would Have Cut $880 Billion From Medicaid. Walz voted against Trump’s ACA repeal, which included $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid. Vox called Trump’s ACA repeal bill a “sneaky” reversal of Medicaid expansion, writing, “The AHCA reverses this expansion. But to avoid the criticism that the law throws poor children off their health insurance, it reverses it in a somewhat sneaky way. Rather than taking Medicaid away from families who have it, it simply caps new enrollments in Medicaid so no new poor families can sign up.”

Lowering Costs and Improving Care

Governor Walz Has Fought To Lower Prescription Drug Costs For Minnesotans. While serving as Minnesota Governor, Walz has championed legislation to increase transparency in prescription drug costs. He also signed the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act to provide relief to Minnesotans struggling to afford their insulin.

Under Governor Walz, Minnesota Has Been Named The Best State For Health Care. Minnesota has been named the best state for health care for two consecutive years under Walz’s leadership.

Governor Walz Has Worked To Improve Long-Term Care. Last year, Walz signed a bill increasing protections for seniors in assisted living facilities. The bill requires facilities to an assisted living bill of rights, including minimum staffing requirements, training requirements, and eviction protections.

Fighting To Protect Reproductive Health Care

Governor Walz Has Fought To Protect People Seeking Reproductive Health Care In Minnesota. Earlier this year, Walz issued an executive order declining to extradite people who are charged under other states’ laws that criminalize providing, seeking, or obtaining an abortion. He declared, “As long as we occupy this office, access to abortion services and reproductive care will be safe, legal, accessible and as affordable as we can make it.”

ashoup
In News

Reminder: MAGA Republicans Want to Raise Costs and Rip Away Health Care

As Democrats celebrate their accomplishments and lay out their vision for the future at the Democratic National Convention, Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans are working to take America backwards. Time and again, MAGA Republicans have made clear plans for American health care: they are going to fight tooth and nail to raise costs, deny coverage to millions of people, and slash funding for Medicare and Medicaid. In 2023 alone, Republicans tried to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s measures that make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors, impose burdensome Medicaid paperwork requirements designed to throw people off of coverage, and weaken protections for 135 million people with pre-existing conditions. Donald Trump has also reignited calls to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) entirely, giving new life to Republicans’ longtime war on health care. 

Key points of the GOP health care plan include:

  • Repealing the ACA
  • Repealing the Inflation Reduction Act
  • Hiking drug costs for seniors
  • Slashing Medicare and Medicaid funding
  • Putting drug and insurance companies back in charge

If Republicans are successful in enacting their health care plan, 46 million Americans across the country risk losing coverage, 20 million will see higher premiums, and 67 million people on Medicare will have to pay increased drug costs for lifesaving medications. 

Read more here: Project 2025 Aims to Raise Costs and Throw Our Health Care System Into Chaos

ashoup
In News

ROUNDUP: Lawmakers and Advocates Across the Nation Celebrate First-Ever Negotiated Drug Prices And Inflation Reduction Act Anniversary With Protect Our Care

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Tim Kaine, U.S Representatives Gwen Moore, Matt Cartwright, and Susie Lee, and HHS Regional Directors Dr. Jeffrey Reynoso and Antrell Tyson Joined Protect Our Care Alongside Other Health Care Advocates

Over the past week, Democratic lawmakers and health care advocates joined Protect Our Care for 17 events in 14 states to celebrate the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act. Members of Congress, local elected officials, and advocates headlined events in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The Inflation Reduction Act anniversary came the day after the Biden-Harris administration announced lower prices for 10 of the highest-cost, most popular drugs taken by people on Medicare – all made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act. Passed by Democrats in Congress and the Biden-Harris administration in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices with manufacturers for the first time in history. This announcement follows a long line of actions the Biden-Harris administration has taken to reduce prescription drug and health care costs for the American people.

At the same time, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are fighting to roll back this progress and repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s historic measures to lower drug prices for seniors. Just weeks after Trump’s inauguration in 2017, he dropped his promise to negotiate drug prices after meeting with big drug company lobbyists. Now, he wants to ban Medicare from negotiating down prices for millions of Americans. Repealing these policies would cost seniors billions of dollars — only putting money back in the pockets of big drug companies.

ARIZONA

Tuesday, August 13 – IRA Anniversary Event with HHS SW Regional Director Dr. Jeffrey Reynoso, and Health Care Advocates: HHS SW Regional Director Dr. Jeffrey Reynoso, Doug Hart of AARA, Les Braswell of Honest Arizona and Aaron Marquez of Vets Forward joined Protect Our Care Arizona to celebrate the second anniversary of the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act and highlight the critical benefits that the IRA brings for Arizonans. “It’s an honor to be part of the Biden-Harris administration who has made great strides in reducing health care costs since entering office in 2021 by working day-in and day-out for the American people,” said Dr. Reynoso. “The Inflation Reduction Act, or the new Lower Costs Prescription Drug Law, is one of the most consequential health care laws since the Affordable Care Act and is delivering lower prescription drug costs, making health insurance more affordable, and making the economy work better. You can watch the event here and view the post-event release here. 

CALIFORNIA

Friday, August 16 – IRA Anniversary Event Ahead of DNC with Health Care Advocates: Izeah Chairez, National Union of Healthcare Workers representative, and Florice Hoffman, health care advocate, joined Protect Our Care CA to mark the second anniversary of President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law and highlight the health care benefits Californians are receiving through this landmark legislation. “I live in Michelle Steel’s district so I’ve seen firsthand what she would do if re-elected with Trump and a MAGA Congress. She would repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, raising prescription drug prices, and she would repeal the Affordable Care Act, kicking millions of Americans off their health care.” said Izeah Chairez. “Her positions are out of touch with the hard-working Californians of her district. Michelle Steel will never do what’s right for California families.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here. 

FLORIDA

Friday, August 16 – IRA Anniversary Event with Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam, Pembroke Pines Mayor Angelo Castillo, Advocates, and Patient Storytellers: Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam, Pembroke Pines Mayor Angelo Castillo, advocates, and patient storytellers joined Protect Our Care Floridato mark the second anniversary of President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law and highlight the health care benefits Floridians are receiving through this landmark legislation. “Since the pandemic, life has been very difficult for many of our seniors. When the rising cost of housing and needing to make end’s meet is exacerbated by out of control medication costs, it just makes life that much more difficult, said Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam. When President Biden and Vice President Harris announce that for the first time ever that Medicare has been empowered to negotiate favorable rates for beneficiaries under Medicare, it is transformational. It is life-saving, and it improves the quality of life for our residents.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.

  • CBS Morning News in Miami with Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam
  • CBS Miami: Local leaders spotlight negotiations to bring down medication prices
  • Sun-Sentinel: What lower prescription drug prices mean for South Florida seniors

GEORGIA

Thursday, August 15 – IRA Anniversary Event with HHS Regional Director Antrell Tyson, State Representative Jasmine Clark, and Health Care Advocates: Antrell Tyson, Health and Human Services Regional Director for Region 4, State Representative Dr. Jasmine Clark and Abbie Fuksman, a retired health insurance executive and cancer survivor joined Protect Our Care Georgia to mark the second anniversary of President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law and highlight the health care benefits Georgians are receiving through this landmark legislation. “Today marks a significant milestone in our journey toward more affordable healthcare. Just two years after the passage of this groundbreaking legislation, we are already witnessing reductions in health insurance premiums and prescription drug costs for Georgians. Today’s announcement of lower prescription drug prices, made possible through Medicare negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act, is truly remarkable,” said Antrell Tyson, Health and Human Services Regional Director for Region 4. You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.

  • The Niagara Gazette: Drugs to treat diabetes, heart disease and blood cancers among those affected by price negotiations

MICHIGAN

Thursday, August 15 – IRA Anniversary Event with State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou and Health Care Advocates: Michigan leaders and patients joined Protect Our Care Michigan to mark the second anniversary of President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law just hours after Medicare announced significant cost savings from historic negotiations to lower costs.“For Michiganders who work hard and save every dollar, the Inflation Reduction Act helps them spend less on health care, save money and live better lives. Those savings are at risk because MAGA Republicans and former President Trump are threatening to make dangerous cuts to health care that will raise costs for families and line the pockets of drug companies and insurance CEOs. In a second term, Trump will try to stop Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices, while slashing tens of billions from Medicare to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy,” said Michigan state Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou. You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.

  • WILX: 10 Prescription drugs to have reduced prices

MINNESOTA

Monday, August 12 – Tim Walz Health Care Champion and IRA Anniversary Event with Attorney General Ellison and Health Care Advocates: Attorney General Keith Ellison, Nicole Smith-Holt, Dr. Kelly Morrison and advocate Nancy Florence joined Protect Our Care Minnesota to highlight how Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) has championed better health care and lower costs for Minnesotans. Gov. Tim Walz is a health care champion with a demonstrated record of fighting to ensure that his constituents have access to affordable, high-quality health care. While in Congress, he helped pass the Affordable Care Act, and he has since worked to safeguard and build on its success. Walz has fought to protect Medicaid and Medicare, lower prescription drug costs, and protect access to reproductive health care.“Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration and Democrats, more Americans than ever have health insurance,” said Attorney General Keith Ellison. “Here in Minnesota, Governor Walz has stood up to Big Pharma, and been there on the side of Minnesotans who need affordable health care and who need affordable drugs that keep people alive literally every day. I know Governor Walz will continue to work tirelessly to expand affordable health care and help Minnesota families and families everywhere breathe a little bit easier.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.

NEVADA

Thursday, August 15 — IRA Anniversary Event with Congresswoman Susie Lee and Health Care Advocates: Congresswoman Susie Lee, IRA beneficiary Donna West, and the Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans joined Protect Our Care Nevada and For Our Future to mark the second anniversary of President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law and highlight the health care benefits Nevadans are receiving through this landmark legislation. You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.

 NEW HAMPSHIRE

Monday, August 5 — IRA Anniversary and GOP Accountability Event with NH Senator Becky Whitley, Granite State Progress, and Health Care Advocates: New Hampshire Senator Becky Whitley, Zandra Rice Hawkins of Granite State Progress and health care advocates joined Protect Our Care New Hampshire to highlight how GOP attacks on affordable, comprehensive health care will hurt New Hampshire. Speakers discussed how MAGA Republican lawmakers and their allies continue to threaten to repeal the ACA, while also working to dismantle reproductive health care, hike premiums, slash Medicare and Medicaid, reverse recent coverage gains and raise prescription drug costs. “healthcare costs are already too high in New Hampshire,” said NH Sen. Becky Whitley. “If Trump and his MAGA allies take power, these costs will only increase. This is the absolute wrong direction. We’ve worked hard in NH, in a bipartisan way, to expand access to health care for Granite Staters, including Medicaid expansion, support for new moms and babies, mental health services, and support and services for individuals with disabilities.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.

  • InDepthNH: Republicans’ Project 2025 Plan Panned by Disability Rights Advocates at State House

Friday, August 16 – Inflation Reduction Act Anniversary Event with HHS Regional Director Everett Handford and Advocate: HHS Regional Director Everett Handford and Moms Rising Campaign Director Nancy Glynn joined Protect Our Care New Hampshire to discuss the benefits that granite staters are receiving thanks to this historic legislation and the recent announcement of the newly negotiated prescription drug costs. “For Granite Staters who have long been feeling the devastating effects of high drug costs, I can finally say there is light at the end of the tunnel,” said HHS Regional Director Everett Handford. “Thanks to the provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, 6,860 Medicare Part D enrollees in New Hampshire will now have their prescription drugs capped at $2,000 per a year. Granite Staters on Medicare will be protected from big PhRMA arbitrary price hikes. 11,525 Granite Staters will have insulin capped at $35 per a month. 36,848 Granite Staters will save monthly on health insurance premiums.” You can view the post-event release here, and watch the full event here. 

NEW YORK

Friday, August 16 — IRA Anniversary Event with Former Congressman Mondaire Jones and New York Health Care Advocates:New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, former Congressman Mondaire Jones, New York State Senator Pete Harckham,1199SEIU and local advocates joined Protect Our Care at Pierson Park in Tarrytown to celebrate the second anniversary of President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law, and to highlight the historic benefits New Yorkers have received as a result of this landmark legislation. “People have heard me say over and over that despite our best efforts to make New York and Westchester affordable for all New Yorkers, we can only do so much without Congressional support. That’s why the Inflation Reduction Act is a milestone worthy of celebrating today, on its second anniversary,” New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “If we work together at the federal and state levels, we can make real progress in making a difference in the lives of people here in Westchester and all of New York. That’s what we have achieved through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Biden-Harris administration.” “Two years ago, I was proud to vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act,” said former Congressman Mondaire Jones. “For too long, we’ve lived in a broken system that has allowed drug companies to charge astronomical prices while hard-working Americans like my grandmother struggle to afford medications they need to survive. I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for yesterday’s announcement of the IRA’s Medicare Drug Negotiation Program and ensuring that health care becomes more affordable.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.

  • News 12 Westchester: New York elected officials and advocates tout the health care benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act two years on

NORTH CAROLINA

Friday, August 16 – IRA Anniversary Event with HHS Regional Director Antrell Tyson, State Representative Mara Cervania, and Advocates: HHS Regional Director Antrell Tyson and State Representative Maria Cervania joined Protect Our Care North Carolina to mark the second anniversary of President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law and highlight the health care benefits North Carolinians are receiving through this landmark legislation. For the first time in history, Medicare is negotiating prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies to lower costs for seniors. Today, the Biden-Harris administration announced the new, lower prices for 10 of the highest-cost, most popular drugs taken by people on Medicare. These new prices are known as “maximum fair prices,” and are the highest prices drug companies are allowed to charge for these life-saving medications. These provisions add up to big savings for North Carolinians. “It means cold hard cash remaining in the pockets of seniors,” said HHS Regional Director Antrell Tyson on the newly released prices. “This Administration was able to negotiate up to an 80 percent discount on many of the drugs that were on the list. That is savings that seniors are going to be able to keep. We estimate that to be over $1.5 billion that seniors will be able to keep once these prices go into effect. When we’re thinking of seniors, we think about our residents who have fixed income. Any dollar that we can help them save is life saving. We’re talking about saving money and changing lives.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.


OHIO

Wednesday, August 14 – IRA Anniversary Event with State Representative Michele Grim, Woodmere Village Mayor Ben Holbdert, and Health Care Advocates: Leaders from across the state of Ohio joined Protect Our Care Ohio to mark the second anniversary of President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law and highlight the health care benefits Ohioans are receiving through this landmark legislation. For the first time in history, Medicare is negotiating prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies to lower costs for seniors. “The Inflation Reduction Act has done a lot of good for our communities here in Ohio” said State Representative Michele Grim. “The Biden-Harris administration has saved Ohioans a lot of money, and it stands in stark contrast to what Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are trying to do.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.


PENNSYLVANIA

Monday, August 19 – IRA Anniversary Event with Congressman Matt Cartwright and Advocates: Representative Matt Cartwright and Pittston pharmacist Joe Albert joined Protect Our Care Pennsylvania to mark the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, which has delivered lower healthcare and prescription drug costs for northeastern Pennsylvanians. The Inflation Reduction Act gave Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices. On Thursday, August 15th, the Department of Health and Human Services announced new, lower prices for ten prescription drugs, which will take effect on January 1st, 2026. Nine million seniors will benefit and save money on the drugs in question: Eliquis, Enbrel, Enestro, Farxiga, Fiasp/NovoLog, Imbruvica, Januvia, Jardiance, Stelara, and Xarelto. These drugs treat blood clots, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, psoriasis, and Crohn’s disease. “We can’t go back to diabetics being forced to ration insulin [and] put their lives at risk, said Congressman Cartwright. “We can’t go back to parents choosing between purchasing their heart medication and putting food on the table. We say enough is enough.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.

VIRGINIA

Thursday, August 15 – IRA Anniversary Event with U.S. Senator Tim Kaine and Health Care Advocates: U.S. Senator Tim Kaime, Chlo’e Edwards, Policy Director at New Virginia Majority, Freddy Mejia, Policy Director at The Commonwealth Institute, and Virginia storytellers  joined Protect Our Care Virginia to mark the second anniversary of President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law and highlight the health care benefits Virginians are receiving through this landmark legislation.  “I’m proud to have cast a deciding vote for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which gave Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices for the very first time,” said Senator Kaine. “I promised Virginians to fight for negotiated prices when I first ran for the Senate and this breakthrough will save America’s seniors $1.5 billion and the federal budget $6 billion in the first year of implementation. And it’s only the beginning—Medicare will negotiate the prices of dozens more drugs in the coming years thanks to the IRA. I will continue to do all that I can to ensure that the many provisions of this legislation designed to lower health care prices are enacted effectively and to push for additional steps to cut costs and expand access to care.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.

  • Virginia Mercury: Kaine celebrates two-year anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act
  • Courthouse News Service: Tim Kaine, health care access advocates celebrate second anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act
  • ABC13: Senator Kaine touts the Inflation Reduction Act
  • Staunton News Leader: The effect of the Inflation Reduction Act on health care in Virginia, two years later

Friday, August 16 – IRA Anniversary Event Ahead of DNC with Delegates Michael Feggans, Phil Hernandez, and Advocates: Delegate Phil Hernandez (D-Norfolk) and Delegate Michael Feggans (D-Virginia Beach) joined Protect Our Care Virginia to celebrate the IRA anniversary ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The delegates contrasted the differences between the Biden-Harris administration’s record of protecting and expanding health care and Donald Trump and Project 2025’s plan’s to rip health care away from seniors and hardworking families. “The two different visions that you’re hearing about health care could not be more different,” said Delegate Phil Hernandez. “On one hand, you’ve got President Biden, Vice President Harris, who, two years ago, signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act …. One of the really powerful things that it did was giving Medicare, for the first time in history, the ability to negotiate prescription drug prices. That’s something that has been in the works for a long, long time. They actually got it done.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.

  • WVEC: Delegates speak about IRA anniversary ahead of DNC
  • WVEC: IRA anniversary and DNC Preview event with VA Delegates

WISCONSIN

Thursday, August 15 – Inflation Reduction Act Anniversary Event with Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Health Care Advocates: U.S. Representative Gwen Moore joined Protect Our Care Wisconsin to mark the second anniversary of President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law and highlight the health care benefits Wisconsinites are receiving through this landmark legislation. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration and Democrats in Congress, more Americans than ever before have health insurance, the cost of insulin is capped at $35 dollars, seniors are protected from drug company price hikes, and seniors’ prescription drug costs will be capped at $2,000 dollars per year starting next year. “The Inflation Reduction Act has reduced our deficit,” said U.S. Representative Gwen Moore. “Republicans always complain about the deficits, well this is one of the ways it’s been so high, this is fair, this is just, this is equitable.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.  

Thursday, August 15 – Medicare Drug Negotiation Event with Senator Tammy Baldwin and Health Care Advocates: Senator Tammy Baldwin joined Protect Our Care Wisconsin to highlight the first ten drugs whose prices will be lowered as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act. Following months of negotiations with drug manufacturers, today the Biden-Harris administration announced the final prices. The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program will lower costs for some of the highest-cost prescription drugs on the market used to treat conditions like cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. You can watch the event here.

  • CBS58: These 10 drugs will now be cheaper for people on Medicare; political debate continues over change
  • News 8 Now: Baldwin celebrates round of negotiated lower Medicare drug prices
  • WQOW (ABC): Baldwin celebrates prescription drug negotiations
  • WKBT (CBS): Senator Tammy Baldwin celebrates Inflation Reduction Act drug price negotiations 
  • WFRV (CBS): (Preview Clip) Baldwin and Hovde on Drug Price Cuts
  • WKBT (CBS): (Preview Clip) Baldwin celebrates White House prescription drug announcement
  • WDJT-MILW (CBS): Debate Over Medicare Drug Prices
ashoup
In Research, Fact Sheet, News

FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Health Care Legacy is a BFD!

As the Democratic National Convention kicks off, Protect Our Care celebrates President Biden’s health care legacy. During his Presidency, Joe Biden has built on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), safeguarding its consumer protections and boosting access to affordable health care for millions of Americans by lowering costs and addressing health inequities. He signed the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act, lowering prescription costs and premiums, and he has fought to protect and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid. Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:

“Joe Biden’s health care legacy is a BFD. There would not be an Inflation Reduction Act without Joe Biden – he created it, he fought aggressively for it for months, he refused to give up, and his legislative skills made it happen. As President, he built on the success of the ACA, standing up to greedy drug companies, lowering the cost of drugs and health insurance and expanding affordable health care to millions of people across America. He kept America safe during the pandemic and launched the cancer moonshot program. He has paved the way for a future where every American has the health care they need and where health care is a right, not a privilege.” 

“Joe Biden has always been a health care champion; he sponsored a bill during his first year in the Senate establishing a Medicare drug price negotiation program and he partnered with President Obama to pass the ACA. Every American’s health care is better and more affordable today because of Joe Biden.”

The Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue Plan:

  • Protect seniors from prescription drug hikes. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, when drug companies hike prices faster than the rate of inflation, they will have to pay Medicare a rebate. This has not only saved the government billions of dollars, but it has drastically reduced out-of-pocket costs for people on Medicare. In June 2024 alone, the Biden-Harris administration announced that some seniors and people with disabilities will pay less for 64 drugs available through Medicare Part B thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s rebate program.
  • Give 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. This month, the Biden-Harris administration announced the new, lower prices for 10 of the highest-cost, most popular drugs taken by nearly 9 million people on Medicare who spent $3.9 billion in out-of-pocket costs in 2023. In the first year alone, these newly lowered prices will save seniors $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs and will save taxpayers $6 billion, slashing the list prices of the first ten drugs by 38–79 percent. Amidst negotiations, the Biden-Harris administration has also successfully fended off lawsuit after lawsuit from big drug companies and their allies seeking to ban Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices.
  • Cap drug costs for seniors. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, Part D plans are required to cap annual out-of-pocket spending to $2,000 by 2025, giving more than 50 million Americans with Medicare Part D more reassurance and financial stability. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, this particularly helps seniors with serious conditions like cancer and Multiple Sclerosis. Seniors will also continue to save on insulin and vaccines.
  • Cut insulin costs. The Inflation Reduction Act capped insulin prices at no more than $35 starting January 2023 — saving seniors up to $1,500 annually. In response to calls from President Biden, the three largest insulin manufacturers announced $35 monthly out-of-pocket cost caps, lowering costs of about 90% of the insulin on the market.
  • Provide free vaccines for seniors. Millions of Americans enrolled in Medicare Part D have access to covered vaccines, such as shingles and Tdap, at no cost. HHS found that over 10 million people on Medicare received a free vaccine thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.
  • Lower health insurance premiums for millions of Americans. The American Rescue plan lowered costs for millions by increasing financial assistance for people who buy coverage on their own and making financial assistance more widely available to middle-class families, ensuring people purchasing coverage through the ACA marketplaces will not pay more than 8.5 percent of their income for coverage. The Inflation Reduction Act carried on those provisions, and families continue to save an average of $2,400 a year on their health insurance premiums.
  • Cap the amount of money families pay for health insurance. The Inflation Reduction Act ensures families pay no more than 8.5 percent of their income towards coverage.
  • Eliminate premiums for low-wage workers. The Inflation Reduction Act and American Rescue Plan ensured no American with an income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level buying their coverage on the Marketplace will pay a premium.
  • Provide extra savings for low-income seniors. The Inflation Reduction Act expanded the Medicare Extra Help program, and the Biden-Harris administration announced investments in helping up to 3 million eligible seniors and people with disabilities enroll in the Extra Help program in 2023 to benefit from the program’s lower cost premiums, deductibles, and copayments.
  • Expand coverage and build on public health emergency continuous coverage protections. The American Rescue Plan provided robust financial incentives for the states that have not yet implemented Medicaid expansion. 
  • Create a pathway to coverage for new mothers. The American Rescue Plan called on states to extend postpartum coverage under Medicaid from two months to a full year following pregnancy, when most negative health outcomes occur.

Safeguarding and Building on The Affordable Care Act

“This Is A Big F*cking Deal:” Then-Vice President Biden Championed The Affordable Care Act. In 2010, the Obama-Biden administration and Democrats in Congress passed the landmark Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, transforming the American health care system. The ACA cemented protections for more than 100 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, expanded Medicaid coverage to about 24 million people, and established affordable health care marketplaces now providing quality coverage for over 21.3 million people who buy insurance on their own. Then-Vice President Joe Biden championed the bill, telling then-President Obama, “This is a big f*cking deal.” Not only did President Biden champion the law, but he worked to strengthen it and protect it from Republican attacks: 

  • President Biden opened a Special Enrollment Period, allowing millions of Americans to enroll in affordable coverage. Just days into his presidency, President Biden issued an executive order reopening HealthCare.gov for a special enrollment period to help Americans gain coverage as they continue to suffer from the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. 2.8 million Americans enrolled during the Special Enrollment Period (SEP), with particularly large increases in enrollment for Hispanic, Black, and American Indian and Alaska Native people. 
  • President Biden defended the ACA from lawsuits seeking to dismantle all or part of the law. Less than a month into his Presidency, President Biden defended the Affordable Care Act in California v. Texas, the lawsuit before the Supreme Court to completely dismantle the law. The Biden-Harris administration has also defended a major provision of the ACA that requires no-cost coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services in Braidwood Management v. Becerra.
  • President Biden rolled back the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine the ACA and revoke consumer protections. In his first days in office, President Biden directed federal agencies to re-examine Trump-era policies that undermine the ACA. His administration has since taken steps to revoke Trump administration actions undermining the ACA’s consumer protections. In March, the Biden-Harris administration issued a final rule to protect consumers and limit short-term junk plans that do not need to cover pre-existing conditions, often use deceptive marketing practices, and leave American families with staggering medical bills. In April, the Biden-Harris administration issued a final rule under Section 1557 of the ACA to advance health care protections against discrimination on the basis of race, color, natural origin, sex, age, and disability. That same month, the Biden-Harris administration also reversed a Trump-era regulation allowing insurance companies to sell junk plans known as association health plans.
  • President Biden invested millions in ACA outreach. The Biden-Harris administration made historic investments in outreach, announcing $500 million in grants over the next five years for the Navigators program. The program plays a key role in helping people across the country sign up for health care coverage through ACA marketplace plans.
  • President Biden launched executive actions strengthening building on the ACA by protecting people with pre-existing conditions and making it easier for low-income enrollees. The Biden-Harris administration announced new executive actions to lower health care costs and protect people with pre-existing conditions. The new actions eliminate surprise medical bills and limit junk insurance plans that do not need to cover people with pre-existing conditions like asthma, cancer, and diabetes. In April, the administration also announced new policies to strengthen the ACA, making it easier for low-income Americans to enroll in coverage, increasing access to routine adult dental services, and setting standards for the time and distance people need to travel for appointments for in-network providers. 
  • President Biden expanded affordable health care to DACA recipients under the ACA. In May, the Biden-Harris administration finalized a policy to expand affordable health care to DACA recipients through the ACA. CMS estimates that this rule could lead to 100,000 previously uninsured DACA gaining coverage. 
  • Under President Biden, a record-breaking 21.3 million Americans signed up for affordable health care through ACA marketplaces. Earlier this year, the Biden-Harris administration announced that a record 21.3 million Americans have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces – over nine million more than when President Biden took office. 80 percent of enrollees were also able to find a health plan through the Marketplace for $10 or less per month thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act lowering health insurance premiums.
  • President Biden fixed the “family glitch,” expanding ACA marketplace eligibility to over one million Americans. In October 2022, the Biden-Harris administration issued a final rule to fix the “family glitch,” which blocked millions of families from accessing affordable coverage through the ACA marketplaces – expanding coverage and lowering health care costs for more than one million Americans.

Strengthening and Protecting Medicaid and Medicare

President Biden Has Worked To Strengthen and Protect Medicaid and Medicare. Throughout his Presidency, President Biden has made protecting and strengthening Medicaid and Medicare – which cover hundreds of millions of Americans – a cornerstone of his health agenda. During his tenure, President Biden has:

  • Protected Medicaid from budget cuts.
  • Cracked down on Trump’s disastrous paperwork requirements.
  • Pushed to make it easier for millions of eligible people to enroll in Medicaid, reducing red tape and simplifying applications, verifications, enrollment, and renewals for health care coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
  • Signed legislation guaranteeing 12-month continuous coverage for kids on Medicaid and CHIP and announced a rule standardizing enrollment and renewal processes nationwide. The rule also applied consumer protections from the ACA to Medicaid and CHIP enrollees, like banning lifetime limits and waiting periods.
  • Fought to protect people on Medicaid from disenrollment. In September 2023, the Biden-Harris announced that nearly 500,000 children and adults who were improperly disenrolled from Medicaid and CHIP would regain their coverage thanks to their actions. 
  • Established national Medicaid and CHIP standards for patient wait times and travel distance, ensuring that people who rely on Medicaid have meaningful access to health care services including primary care, behavioral health and substance use disorder services, and OB/GYN care. The Biden-Harris administration also announced minimum staffing standards at nursing homes to promote safety and high-quality care for 1.2 million seniors and people with disabilities. 
  • Pushed for prescription drug transparency in Medicaid. 
  • Cracked down on Medicare Advantage plan providers publishing misleading ads.

Lowering Costs and Improving Health Care

President Biden Has Fought To Lower Drug Costs, Including Inhalers. In December 2023, the Biden-Harris administration announced plans to lower prices for certain high-priced medicines by developing a policy for using federal “march-in rights” to license drugs to other manufacturers who could sell them for less in order to stop price gouging and boost competition between drug manufacturers to lower prices for patients. That same month, the Biden-Harris administration announced a new policy to ensure the best value for taxpayers by establishing a fair pricing standard for medical products purchased by the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. In March, President Biden hosted an event to celebrate lower inhaler costs following the FTC’s recent crackdown on drug companies that use improper patents to keep the price of inhalers too high. In response, two drugmakers have capped out-of-pocket costs for some top-selling inhalers at $35 per month. 

President Biden Has Fought To Improve Health Equity and Access to Health Care. President Biden has taken steps during his presidency to address health inequities, issuing several executive orders and new agency rules. On his first day in office, President Biden signed an executive order calling for the federal government to advance an ambitious, whole-of-government equity agenda. In April 2022, he signed another executive order focused on continued efforts to expand access to affordable, quality health coverage, and in February 2023, President Biden signed a new executive order aiming to strengthen and reaffirm the administration’s commitment to deliver equity. In September 2023, the Biden-Harris administration released a historic proposed rule that strengthens prohibitions against discrimination for people with disabilities in any program or activity receiving funding from HHS.

President Biden Has Worked Tirelessly To Address Maternal Health. President Biden has worked to address the maternal mortality crisis and invest in maternal health. In June 2022, the Biden-Harris administration released a whole-of-government blueprint for combating maternal mortality and morbidity. In March, President Biden signed an executive order directing federal agencies to prioritize women’s health research, including studying conditions like menopause, arthritis, and heart disease and in April, the Biden-Harris administration invested $105 million in funding to support more than 100 community-based organizations working to improve maternal and infant health.

President Biden Has Prioritized Reproductive Health Care As MAGA Republicans Rolled Out Abortion Bans and Pushed For Limited Contraception Access. In the wake of the MAGA Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and rolling back nearly 50 years of abortion protections, President Biden has made protecting reproductive health care a top priority. Following the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, President Biden signed an Executive Order seeking to protect access to reproductive health care services and defend women’s fundamental rights. He has issued executive orders strengthening access to affordable contraception and family planning services and rolling back Trump’s gag rule barring family planning providers from mentioning abortion to patients to receive Title X funding. The Biden-Harris administration also recently released new guidance reminding state Medicaid agencies that they must ensure enrollees have access to comprehensive family planning services.

ashoup
In News, Statement

Kamala Harris to Unveil Economic Plan to Further Drive Down Health Care Costs

Washington DC — This afternoon, Kamala Harris is set to outline her economic plan to lower costs and give hardworking families more room to breathe. Her plan builds on the health care victories of the Biden-Harris administration to lower prescription drug costs, extend the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug savings to everyone, and relieve medical debt for millions. The plan also cracks down on big drug companies that use anti-competitive practices to raise prices on the American people. 

Harris’s plan is in stark contrast to the MAGA agenda, which calls for repealing the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, ripping away protections for people with pre-existing conditions, banning Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices, and hiking health care costs across the board. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement: 

“Vice President Kamala Harris has a plan to lower the cost of living and help the middle class thrive — and health care is central to that plan. While Vice President Harris will build on the success of the Inflation Reduction Act and lower drug prices for everyone, Republicans want to move us backwards. Polling shows that addressing health care costs is a top issue for voters of all parties, and Harris is sending a clear message that health care is one of her top priorities.”

euriel
In News

ROUNDUP: Democrats and Advocates React to the First-Ever Negotiated Medicare Drug Prices By the Biden-Harris Administration

Today, the Biden-Harris administration announced the new, lower prices for 10 of the highest-cost, most popular drugs taken by people on Medicare. These new prices are the highest prices drug companies can charge for these lifesaving medications – all made possible through the historic Inflation Reduction Act, passed by Democrats in Congress and the Biden-Harris administration in 2022, which gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices with manufacturers for the first time in history.

This announcement follows a long line of actions the Biden-Harris administration has taken to reduce prescription drug and health care costs for the American people. The Inflation Reduction Act also lowered drug prices for millions of seniors by capping insulin costs at $35 per month, limiting outrageous price hikes, and making recommended vaccines like shingles free for people on Medicare. And starting in 2025, total out-of-pocket drug costs will be capped at $2,000 per year for seniors. In 2023, 10 million seniors received a free vaccine, and HHS estimates that 19 million seniors will save $400 or more per year thanks to the out-of-pocket cap.

At the same time, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are fighting to roll back this progress and repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s historic measures to lower drug prices for seniors. Just weeks after Trump’s inauguration in 2017, he dropped his promise to negotiate drug prices after meeting with big drug company lobbyists. Now, he wants to ban Medicare from negotiating down prices for millions of Americans. Repealing these policies would cost seniors billions of dollars — only putting money back in the pockets of big drug companies.

Administration 

President Joe Biden: “Today, for the first time in history, my Administration is announcing that Medicare has reached agreements on new, lower prices with the manufacturers of all 10 drugs selected for the first round of drug price negotiation. […] This historic milestone is only possible because of the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed with the leadership of Democrats in Congress, and with Vice President Harris casting the tie-breaking vote in the Senate – without a single Republican voting for it. We showed that major progress can be made for the American people when we work together to take on special interests, even as Big Pharma continues to go to court to try to block lower prices for consumers. But the Vice President and I are not backing down. We will continue the fight to make sure all Americans can pay less for prescription drugs and to give more breathing room for American families.” [President Joe Biden, Statement, 8/15/24]

Vice President Kamala Harris: “Thanks to our historic work to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, millions of Americans who rely on these drugs will save on their out-of-pocket costs. While people enrolled in Medicare are expected to save $1.5 billion in 2026 alone, American taxpayers will also save an estimated $6 billion. Today’s announcement will be life changing for so many of our loved ones across the nation, and we are not stopping here. Additional prescription drugs will be selected each year as part of our Medicare drug price negotiation program. This includes up to 15 additional drugs covered under Medicare Part D for negotiation in 2025, up to an additional 15 Part B and Part D drugs in 2026, and up to 20 drugs every year after that.” [Vice President Kamala Harris, Statement, 8/15/24]

Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services: “Americans pay too much for their prescription drugs. That makes today’s announcement historic. For the first time ever, Medicare negotiated directly with drug companies and the American people are better off for it. Congressional budget estimators (Congressional Budget Office) predicted about $100 billion savings over 10 years from drug negotiations, and a $3.7 billion savings in the first year alone. Today we’re announcing that in our first year of negotiations we are saving Medicare an estimated $6 billion and Americans who pay out of pocket will be saving another $1.5 billion moving forward. Empowering Medicare to negotiate prices not only strengthens the program for generations to come, but also puts a check on skyrocketing drug prices.” [CMS Press Release, 8/15/24]

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: “CMS is proud to have negotiated drug prices for people with Medicare for the first time. These negotiations will not only lower the prices of critically important medications for cancer, diabetes, heart failure, and more, but will also save billions of dollars. Medicare drug price negotiation and the lower prices announced today demonstrate the commitment of CMS and the Biden-Harris Administration to lower health care and prescription drug costs for Americans. We made a promise to the American people, and today, we are thrilled to share that we have fulfilled that promise.” [CMS Press Release, 8/15/24]

Meena Seshamani, CMS Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare: “CMS negotiated in good faith on behalf of the millions of people who rely on these 10 drugs for their health and well-being. The new negotiated prices will bring much needed financial relief, affordability, and access. Throughout the process, we remained true to our commitment to be thoughtful and transparent, meeting publicly with patients, providers, health plans, pharmacies, drug companies and others to help inform the process. We will continue to do so for future cycles. Our team is actively working on the next cycle of negotiations where we will combine what we have learned from this first cycle and apply it in negotiating prices for the next round of up to 15 selected drugs.” [CMS Press Release, 8/15/24]

Neera Tanden, White House Domestic Policy Advisor: “Because Medicare is now able to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors, American taxpayers are expected to save $6 billion on these 10 drugs alone when the negotiated prices go into effect.” [The Hill, 8/15/24]

Congress

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11): “This is an historic and transformative day. The Inflation Reduction Act was a monumental victory in Democrats’ long fight to make prescription drugs more affordable: empowering Medicare to negotiate lower prices. Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, today’s announcement delivers billions of dollars in savings for millions of American seniors. Democrats will never stop fighting to build on this progress and keep lowering costs for America’s working families.” [X, 8/15/24]

President Pro Tempore Patty Murray (D-WA): “This is the biggest step we have taken in over a decade to bring down drug prices—all because of Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. Not only did every single Republican vote against it, but—as Project 2025 makes clear—Republicans are still scheming to repeal the entire IRA under a Trump admin regardless of how that might hurt families.” [X, 8/15/24]

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY): “Today’s announcement is a huge, long-sought-after breakthrough for American families. For decades, the American people wanted fair negotiations with Big Pharma, and because of the Inflation Reduction Act, they got it. Now the American people are seeing the results.” [X, 8/15/24]

Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL): “The Biden-Harris Administration announced that 10 of the most costly and prescribed drugs are having their prices cut—some up to 79%—saving Americans billions on prescription drug prices. @POTUS & Senate Dems will continue to deliver through the Inflation Reduction Act.” [X, 8/15/24]

Chair of Policy & Communications Debbie Stabenow (D-MI): “BIG NEWS: @POTUS & @VP have negotiated lower costs for 10 prescription drugs! These are drugs seniors use every day for diabetes, blood clots, and cancers. About nine million people in the U.S. use one of these ten drugs & will see their costs lowered next year!” [X, 8/15/24]

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR): “Today, Medicare has used the bargaining power of tens of millions of American seniors to fight Big Pharma for lower drug prices,” Wyden said. “While Trump and his Republican allies in Congress want to leave Big Pharma in charge so seniors pay higher prices, Democrats have delivered lower costs, more consumer protections, and accountability of drug companies that raise prices with impunity. These new, lower prices for prescription drugs in Medicare means seniors save money at the pharmacy counter and marks the first step in a seismic shift in the relationship between Big Pharma, taxpayers, and seniors who need affordable prescription drugs.” [Senate Committee on Finance Press Release, 8/15/24]

Senate HELP Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-VT): “Let me congratulate the Biden-Harris Administration for taking on the greed of the pharmaceutical industry & slashing the list prices of some of the most expensive prescription drugs under Medicare by up to 79%. This action will bring significant financial relief to seniors.” [X, 8/15/24]

Senate Rules Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-MN): “Exorbitant prices should never stand between Americans and the life-sustaining medications they need. That is why I worked to end the sweetheart deal that allowed Big Pharma to artificially raise prices at the expense of our seniors. This announcement will save patients and taxpayers billions of dollars and these savings will grow as Medicare negotiates the prices of even more drugs. Seniors won’t be the only ones to benefit. These prices will give employers and commercial health plans important information they need to secure savings for Americans with private insurance too. This is a major turning point in our fight to bring down costs.” [Press Release, 8/15/24]

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA): “For far too long, prescription drug costs have hung like a bag of rocks tied around the necks of millions of Americans, weighing them down every single day,” said Chairman Casey. “I fought to give Medicare the power to negotiate prices with drug companies to help ease the burden that so many older Americans are carrying. Today’s announcement is a huge relief for the people who rely on these often life-saving medications, and shows just how significant the savings will be as Medicare plans to engage in price negotiations on more and more drugs in the coming years.” [Press Release, 8/15/24]

Senator Jon Tester (D-MT): “Montanans shouldn’t have to struggle to fill their lifesaving prescription medications because Big Pharma is jacking up prices, and today’s announcement is a big win for Montanans across our state. That’s why I took the large pharmaceutical companies head-on to pass a commonsense law that will now officially lower the cost of 10 of the most common prescription drugs that Montanans rely on that treat heart disease, cancer, diabetes, blood clots, and more. I’ll continue working to lower costs and put more money back in the pockets of hardworking families.” [Press Release, 8/15/24]

Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA-05): “A major win for seniors! This is what happens when our leaders prioritize people over profits.” [X, 8/15/24]

House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06): “This is a historic day. Democrats fought for over 20 years to empower Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors. Today we have finally achieved that goal. As a result of these negotiations, Americans are expected to save $1.5 billion in the first year alone. And this is just the beginning. Now that Medicare has the authority to negotiate, it will continue to negotiate lower prices on more drugs each year going forward. It is a gamechanger that will save American seniors’ hard-earned money for years to come. While Republicans want to repeal this progress and allow Big Pharma to raise prices, Democrats are just getting started. We’re defending the progress we’ve made while continuing to fight to further lower prescription drug prices.” [Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. Press Release, 8/15/24]

House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA-01): “Tomorrow’s second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act is now that much more momentous with today’s announcement of the first slate of lower prescription drug prices negotiated by the Biden-Harris Administration. We are fighting back against Big Pharma’s ‘profits over people’ practice and putting an end to the heartbreaking decisions between medical care and life’s other responsibilities. Not only will seniors save $1.5 billion on out-of-pocket costs in the first year alone, but Medicare will also save $6 billion. It’s commonsense: strengthening our health care system while saving taxpayers money.” [House Ways and Means Committee Democrats, Press Release, 8/15/24]

House Education & Labor Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) “Democrats beat Big Pharma when we enacted the Inflation Reduction Act. This law finally empowered Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. Today’s announcement from the Biden-Harris Administration will deliver massive savings for millions of seniors.” [X, 8/15/24]

Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Representative Judy Chu (D-CA-28): “Exciting News! Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, the @WhiteHouse negotiated lower prices for 🔟 Medicare drugs. 💊 American taxpayers are expected to save $6 billion on Rx drugs 💲Medicare enrollees are expected to save $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket Rx costs in 2026 alone” [X, 8/15/24]

Advocates

AARP’s Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond: “Today’s announcement marks a significant step forward in our long-standing efforts to lower prescription drug prices. AARP members from across the political spectrum overwhelmingly called lowering prescription drug costs a top concern – and this first round of Medicare-negotiated prices will bring financial relief to millions of older Americans. As the voice for the 100 million Americans ages 50-plus, we will continue working to ensure this law is fully implemented and benefits older Americans for decades to come.” [AARP, 8/15/24]

Accountable.US’ Executive Director Tony Carrk: “This is a transformative victory for millions of seniors and other patients who rely on Medicare for affordable access to life-saving medications. Big Pharma CEOs and their army of lobbyists spared no expense to defend a system rigged in their favor, prioritizing profits and price gouging over people’s health. The Biden-Harris administration has made the well-being of millions of Americans the priority, taking a decisive step towards lowering c2osts for millions.” [Press Release, 8/15/24]

Building Back Together’s Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives Eileen Garcia: “Today marks a key moment in America’s history. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act — passed as a result of Vice President Harris’ historic tie-breaking vote in the Senate and signed by President Biden — Medicare has resolved its first-ever negotiations with Big Pharma, lowering the cost of ten of the most commonly used prescriptions in the country. … From day one of this administration, President Biden and Vice President Harris have stood firm in the face of big corporations to bring down prices and ease the financial burdens plaguing working people. The fact is, medications don’t work if people can’t afford to take them; now, more people will be able to access the critical care they need to live healthier lives, and that is a fact worth celebrating.” [Press Release, 8/15/24]

Center for American Progress’ Vice President of Health Policy Andrea Ducas: “Today’s announcement marks a historic moment for the Medicare program. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration, seniors will benefit from price cuts for lifesaving drugs, which will put cash back in their pockets. For decades, Big Pharma has raked in record profits, with America’s seniors paying the price. Essential drugs to treat cancer and blood clots and to manage chronic conditions should not be priced out of reach to pad pharmaceutical companies’ bottom lines. In addition to the IRA’s $2,000 Medicare Part D out-of-pocket cost cap, inflation rebates, and $35 monthly cost cap on insulin, today’s negotiated prices are another example of how the IRA and the Biden-Harris administration are delivering much-needed relief to millions of Medicare beneficiaries.” [Press Release, 8/15/24]

Health Care For America Now’s Executive Director Margarida Jorge: “As the Inflation Reduction Act turns two this week, today’s news about lowered prices through Medicare negotiations gives patients, providers and taxpayers alike something big to celebrate. … And this is just the beginning. More drugs will be selected each year as part of Medicare’s drug price negotiation program which will save patients and taxpayers even more money over the coming decade and make medicines more accessible for seniors and people with disabilities.” [Press Release, 8/15/24]

Patients For Affordable Drugs’ Executive Director Merith Basey: “For the first time in its 59-year history, Medicare has ushered in a new era of affordability for patients across the country by successfully negotiating lower prices on 10 of the most expensive and widely-used drugs. Medicare Negotiation alters the trajectory of drug pricing in the U.S. and begins to break the monopoly power of big drug corporations to dictate prices of brand-name drugs to people in this country. It marks a critical shift in the system to make it work for the people it is supposed to serve – patients – rather than those who profit from it. The lower negotiated prices symbolize new hope for patients on these drugs who have been forced to make impossible choices between their health, well-being, and financial stability.” [Press Release, 8/15/24]

Public Citizen’s Access to Medicines Director Peter Maybarduk: “This is a major achievement. At last and over Big Pharma’s pernicious, hand-wringing opposition, Medicare has negotiated drug prices, promising long-overdue savings for American taxpayers.” [Press Release, 8/15/24]

Small Business for America’s Future Senior Advisor Rhett Buttle: “The Inflation Reduction Act gave Medicare the authority to negotiate lower drug prices, which marked another important step toward increased affordability that will have far-reaching impacts on the entire healthcare system. Today’s announcement of the negotiated prices for 10 key medications, set to take effect in 2026, is a clear demonstration of this policy in action. … By addressing high healthcare costs, we’re strengthening small businesses and the overall health of our national economy. I encourage lawmakers to prioritize more policies like the Inflation Reduction Act to sustain small business growth.” [Press Release, 8/15/24]

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