Capitol Hill

***VIRTUAL RALLY ON SEPTEMBER 14 AT 4:00 PM ET // 3:00 PM CT***

Senator Klobuchar to Headline Virtual Rally for Standing Up to Big Pharma and Giving Medicare the Power to Negotiate for Lower Drug Prices 

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Will Join Health Care Storytellers and Advocates from Across the Country To Show the Growing Momentum for Keeping Medicare Negotiation in Upcoming Budget Legislation

Washington, DC — On Tuesday, September 14 at 4:00 PM ET // 3:00 PM CT Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will headline a virtual rally with Protect Our Care to illustrate the growing momentum for giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices. Health care advocates from across the country will share their personal stories and demonstrate the dire need for lawmakers to take action to lower drug prices. Voters across the political spectrum agree Medicare negotiation is a critical step to lower drug costs and improve care for all Americans. 

The event comes as Congress is closing in on a budget agreement that will transform the lives of American families nationwide. President Biden and Democrats are leading the charge to include Medicare negotiation and other key health care priorities in the Build Back Better package, but the fight is not over: Big Pharma is ramping up its lobbying and scare tactics to protect its profits and lie to the American people. This rally will make clear that Democrats will not cower to the demands of drug companies and will deliver on their promises to the American people. 

Virtual Rally:

WHO:
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Iesha Meza, patient storyteller from Arizona
Travis Paulson, patient storyteller from Eleveth, Minnesota
Mindy Salango, Type 1 diabetic and patient storyteller from Morgantown, West Virginia
Nedra Fortson, Executive Director of Samaritan Clinic and nurse practitioner from Georgia
Jay Gupta, Director of Pharmacy at Harbor Care in New Hampshire
Dustin Klein, patient storyteller from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Brad Woodhouse, Protect Our Care

WHAT: Virtual Rally for Giving Medicare the Power to Negotiate for Lower Drug Prices 

WHERE: Watch the Event Here

WHEN: Tuesday, September 14 at 4:00 PM ET // 3:00 PM CT

Millions of Americans Stand To Gain Coverage

Washington, D.C.– Last night, the House Energy and Commerce Committee released legislative text for one of the most pressing priorities in health care: closing the Medicaid coverage gap. Nationwide, millions of adults in 12 states lack insurance coverage because of Republican leaders’ refusal to expand Medicaid. This includes older adults, people with disabilities, and working families. The vast majority of those stuck in the coverage gap are people of color. This legislation would ensure all of these individuals have access to affordable coverage. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse released the following statement:

“Democrats are delivering on their promises to lower health costs and improve care. In most states, Medicaid expansion is a lifeline; it reduces racial disparities in health care, creates healthier communities and strengthens economies. Closing the coverage gap is the single most important thing Congress can do to address the inequities laid bare by the pandemic. This legislation will drive down uninsured rates in states like Texas, Florida, and Georgia, where we’ve seen devastating health care outcomes simply because patients cannot afford care. We commend Chairman Pallone and all the Democrats on the committee for their hard work to improve health care access for our nation’s most vulnerable.” 

Background:

Closing The Coverage Gap Will Expand Access To 5.8 Million Uninsured Americans In Non-Expansion States. The Energy and Commerce Committee’s plan to close the Medicaid coverage gap through establishing federal Medicaid programs in non-expansion states and reducing health care premiums through reinsurance programs would drop the number of uninsured Americans by nearly 6 million people. These provisions and making the American Rescue Plan Act subsidies permanent would decrease uninsured Black individuals by 33.5 percent, Latino/Hispanic individuals by 15.7 percent, Asian/Pacific Islander individuals by 16.7 percent, and American Indian and Alaskan Natives by 23.6 percent. 

Medicaid Expansion Saves Lives

Expansion Increases Access To Preventive Care And Life Saving Treatments. Through Medicaid expansion, uninsured adults can gain access to preventive care and treatments such as colon cancer screenings, affordable diabetes medication, and mental health and addiction treatment. 

Medicaid Improves Health Outcomes And Reduces Mortality. A study published in the Journal of Health Economics found that Medicaid expansion reduced mortality in people aged 20 to 64 by 3.6 percent. Medicaid expansion also saved the lives of 19,200 older adults aged 55 to 64 between 2014 and 2017. At the same time,15,600 older adults died prematurely as a result of their states’ decision not to expand the program.

Medicaid Expansion Reduces Income Inequality and Lowers Health Costs

Reduced Income Inequality And Medical Debt. Medicaid expansion under the ACA caused a “significant” reduction in poverty and reduced income inequality across the board by 5.3 percent. In states that have expanded Medicaid, the chance of accruing medical debt is 20 percent lower than non-expansion states. Additionally, a 2018 National Bureau of Economic Research analysis found that Medicaid expansion led to a nearly $6 billion decline in unpaid medical bills and to higher credit scores.

Washington, DC — Today, the Democratic National Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released a memo outlining their priorities for the August recess. The memo makes clear Democrats are laser-focused on advancing American health care, including by lowering prescription drug costs and insurance premiums and expanding access to affordable coverage on the ACA marketplaces, while Republicans remain opposed to these highly popular reforms. 

The memo comes just days before Protect Our Care kicks off its 19-state bus tour in Bangor, Maine, which will promote the work of President Biden and dozens of Democratic lawmakers who are leading the charge to lower health costs, expand coverage, and reduce racial disparities in care. In response to the memo, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:

“The Democratic plan to focus on health care during the August recess reflects the fact that poll after poll shows that health care is the number one issue for voters. Just like in previous election cycles, health care will be a deciding issue in 2022. Protect Our Care’s nationwide bus tour kicking off next week will drive home the message that Democrats are delivering on their promises to reduce the cost of prescription drugs and insurance premiums while Republicans continue to oppose legislation to improve care and lower costs for the American people.” 

From the memo:

Democrats will highlight how we are lowering costs like health care for the American people: 

• Thanks to President Biden and Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, 4 out of 5 people enrolled in a marketplace plan can now buy health care for $10 or less per month. Now, Democrats are fighting to make those premium reductions permanent – lowering millions of American families’ monthly health care costs — along with proposals that would further reduce the cost of health care, prescription drugs and expenses like elder care and child care.  
• Since the Biden administration opened a special enrollment period because of the pandemic, more than 2 million Americans have signed up for health insurance since February.
• Even in the midst of the pandemic, Republicans have continued their efforts to roll back, weaken and eliminate the Affordable Care Act — attempting to spike costs and gut coverage protections for those with pre-existing conditions. Democrats believe that every single American should have access to quality, affordable care.

This week, Senate Democrats unveiled a $3.5 trillion proposed FY2022 Budget Resolution framework that would make historic investments in Americans health care. The proposal, which has the strong support of President Biden, lowers the cost of prescription drugs, expands Medicare benefits to include vision, dental and hearing, closes the Medicaid coverage gap, and extends the premium reductions under the American Rescue Plan so millions of people can continue to afford their coverage. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:

“After years of Republican efforts to rip away health care, the health care principles outlined in the Senate Democrats’ budget resolution framework represent a huge milestone in the fight for affordable care. Under the leadership of President Biden, Congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to meaningfully improve the health and well-being of millions of Americans, and as we come out of this pandemic, improving access to care could not be more urgent. This framework demonstrates that Democrats are committed to delivering on their promises for the American people. Well done.” 

BY THE NUMBERS

• 53 percent of American adults, or roughly 130 million people, take prescription drugs in the U.S. and stand to benefit from legislation to lower drug prices. 
• Nearly 38 million traditional Medicare enrollees would gain vision, dental, and hearing coverage. 
• More than 2 million uninsured people stuck in the coverage gap would get access to quality, affordable insurance.
• 4.2 million uninsured people would gain coverage if the American Rescue Plan’s subsidies are made permanent, and millions more would continue to save on health care costs.

New Report Outlines Urgent Need for Federal Approach to Provide Relief to Millions of People Who Have Been Locked Out of Coverage

Report Comes After Sen. Warnock Released Bold Legislation for the Federal Government to Close the Coverage Gap

Washington, DC — Today, Protect Our Care is releasing a report on the impacts of the Coverage Gap in Georgia, one of 12 states that refuse to expand Medicaid. Americans with low incomes should not be forced to go without health coverage simply because they live in a state that has refused Medicaid expansion. According to the report, nearly 646,000 Georgians could gain coverage if Medicaid were expanded.

However, despite hundreds of billions of dollars in financial incentives in the American Rescue Plan, state leaders continue to stand in the way of expansion, leaving hundreds of thousands of Georgia families without access to quality, affordable care. 

In response to Republican inaction in states like Georgia, President Biden and Congressional Democrats are working to bypass state governments who refuse to do the right thing. Just this week, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) introduced legislation creating a federal solution to finally expand Medicaid coverage to millions of people stuck in the coverage gap.

The POC report comes after leaders of the Congressional Tri-Caucus, which includes the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), joined more than 60 of their colleagues on a letter advocating for closing the coverage gap through the American Families Plan.

“For too long leaders in Georgia and the other non-expansion states have put politics over people, refusing to strengthen public health by expanding Medicaid. And this robust report details how the nearly 275,000 Georgians who are in the coverage gap and the 500,000 Georgians who would be eligible for Medicaid have paid the highest price for these decisions,” Senator Reverend Warnock said. “This timely report underlines the urgency with which Congress must act to ensure hardworking people with low-incomes have access to affordable health care, and I’m going to keep pushing the Senate hard to include my legislation to close the coverage gap and provide affordable health care to millions of Georgians and Americans in the next recovery package.”

“Waiting for the Republican leaders in Georgia and the 11 other states that refuse to expand Medicaid to change course is no longer a viable option,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “By refusing to expand Medicaid in their state, Georgia Republican lawmakers are denying coverage to their most vulnerable populations, including thousands of Georgians of color. Despite the overwhelming benefits of Medicaid expansion, and even with the additional incentives included in the American Rescue Plan, Republicans have put politics over people by continuing to reject the program. Senator Warnock and Congressional Democrats are now leading with a bold new approach for the federal government to close the expansion gap, and Congress must take action now to make it a reality.”

Read the new report on closing the coverage gap in Georgia here.

Read the previous reports on Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina. Texas, and Wisconsin.

Senator Warnock’s Legislation Would Expand Coverage To Millions, Including 2.4 Million People of Color

Washington, DC — Today, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) introduced legislation creating a federal solution to expand Medicaid coverage to millions of people stuck in the coverage gap in 13 states where Republicans have refused to expand Medicaid. Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach praised the legislation in a statement:

“Medicaid expansion reduces racial disparities in health care, creates healthier communities and strengthens economies. It is the single most important thing Congress can do to address the racial inequities laid bare by the pandemic. If we fail to expand Medicaid, we fail millions of people,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Congress must close the coverage gap once and for all. People of color, women, children, older adults, people with disabilities and so many more will benefit from this legislation, and we commend Senator Warnock’s leadership in ensuring better access to care.” 

According to the new Morning Consult/Politico national survey, the top two issues that people think Congress should prioritize are ‘reducing health care costs’ and ‘passing a bill to bring down prescription drug costs.’ Both have more than 85% of voters saying they are a priority and include strong support from Independents and Republicans

TOP TWO ISSUES

Reducing health care costs: 88% (59% top priority)

– 87% (63% top priority) with Independents

– 83% (50% top priority) with Republicans

Passing a bill to bring down prescription drug costs: 85% (50% top priority)

– 82% (48% top priority) with Independents

– 82% (46% top priority) with Republicans

OTHER ISSUES

Stimulating the economy to recover from the coronavirus pandemic: 84% (59% top priority)

Reducing the federal budget deficit: 77% (41% top priority) 

Passing a health care reform bill: 76% (47% top priority)

Passing an immigration reform bill: 71% (39% top priority)

Passing an infrastructure spending bill: 70% (34% top priority)

Passing a bill to address climate change and its effects: 65% (37% top priority)

Passing a bill to reduce inequality: 61% (34% top priority)

Passing legislation placing additional restrictions on gun ownership: 60% (36% top priority)

Regulating tech companies: 57% (22% top priority)

Passing a bill to provide relief to Americans with student loan debt: 54% (24% top priority)

Eliminating the filibuster in the Senate: 48% (22% top priority)

Passing a bill to legalize marijuana: 43% (19% top priority)