News

Washington, DC — Today, House Democrats introduced a bill to build on the Inflation Reduction Act’s historic measures to lower prescription drug prices. The Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act would increase the number of drugs subject to Medicare negotiation, extend inflation rebates to the private insurance market so drug prices don’t rise faster than inflation, and expand the savings from Medicare negotiation to Americans with private insurance, not just those covered by Medicare.

The new legislation comes as the Biden administration is working to implement the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare negotiation program. On September 1, the administration will release the first list of drugs for Medicare negotiations. While President Biden and Democrats in Congress are keeping up the fight to lower costs for American families, big drug companies and their Republicans allies are trying to move backwards by going to court and introducing legislation to stop Medicare from negotiating at all. The bill was introduced by Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA), and Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA).

In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement: 

“Once again, Democrats are tackling the issues that matter most to Americans worried about the high cost of health care. Americans pay up to four times more for the same drugs as people in other countries, forcing people to cut pills in half or skip doses altogether. The Inflation Reduction Act has been a remarkable step forward to rein in Big Pharma’s greed, cap drug costs for seniors, and finally give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices. More than 80 percent of Americans support the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare negotiation program, making it one of the most popular policies in recent history. It’s time to expand these savings to even more families no matter where they get their insurance.”

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WEDNESDAY JULY 26 at 9:30 AM EDT***

New Report Breaks Down Virginians’ Savings from Inflation Reduction Act 

Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, July 26 at 9:30 AM U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08) will join Protect Our Care Virginia to discuss the Biden-Harris administration’s next steps in implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. The administration released the final guidance outlining the process for negotiation, and by September 1, the ten drugs that are selected for the first round of price negotiations will be announced.

Speakers will also discuss a new fact sheet from Protect Our Care outlining how the Inflation Reduction Act reduces health care costs for Virginians— with even more savings on the way as the law’s provisions to give Medicare the power to negotiate and cap seniors’ prescription drug costs take effect. The new fact sheet follows new polling that shows the health care measures in the Inflation Reduction Act are the most popular in the entire bill.

This event comes as Republicans and big drug companies are attacking the Inflation Reduction Act in Congress and the courts. Pharmaceutical giants Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Astellas Pharma, and Johnson & Johnson-owned Janssen Pharmaceuticals, as well as the industry’s trade association PhRMA, are laser-focused on undermining the Inflation Reduction Act by filing lawsuits to protect their profits and stop the administration from negotiating lower drug prices. Big Pharma’s GOP allies in Congress have already introduced legislation to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s prescription drug provisions, which would increase drug costs for millions of seniors.

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08)
National Domestic Workers Alliance State Director Yanet Limon-Amado
Protect Our Care Virginia State Director Katie Baker
Medicare Storyteller Irv Varkonyi

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

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

WHEN: Wednesday, July 26 at 9:30 AM EDT

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News Comes as Big Drug Companies Are in Court to Overturn Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Negotiation Program

Washington, DC — A new report from Accountable US shows that the five largest pharmaceutical companies (Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, AbbVie, and Pfizer) raked in $81.9 billion in 2022 — an $8 billion increase from the previous year. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:  

“Pharmaceutical greed knows no bounds. Right now, Americans are cutting pills and skipping doses because they can’t afford the prescription drugs that keep them alive. While drug companies continue to rake in record profits, they are crying wolf saying that any policy to make drugs more affordable for patients will harm innovation. Some of the top-earning drug companies are the same companies that are going to court to reverse the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare negotiation program, which would make prescription drugs more affordable for our nation’s seniors. It’s a complete disgrace that drug companies continue to put massive profits over a little bit of relief for seniors.”

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TUESDAY, JULY 25 at 10 AM MST // 1 PM EDT***

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, Arizonans Are Saving on Health Care Costs

Phoenix, AZ – On Tuesday, July 25 at 10 AM MST // 1 PM EDT, U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) will join Protect Our Care Arizona, experts, and advocates to discuss the Biden-Harris administration’s next steps in implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. The administration released the final guidance outlining the process for negotiation, and by September 1, the ten drugs that are selected for the first round of price negotiations will be announced.

Speakers will also discuss a new fact sheet from Protect Our Care outlining how the Inflation Reduction Act reduces health care costs for Arizonans— with even more savings on the way as the law’s provisions to give Medicare the power to negotiate and cap seniors’ prescription drug costs take effect. The new fact sheet follows new polling that shows the health care measures in the Inflation Reduction Act are the most popular in the entire bill.

This event comes as big drug companies are attacking the Inflation Reduction Act in Congress and the courts. Pharmaceutical giants Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Astellas Pharma, and Johnson & Johnson-owned Janssen Pharmaceuticals, as well as the industry’s trade association PhRMA, are laser-focused on undermining the Inflation Reduction Act by filing lawsuits to protect their profits and stop the administration from negotiating lower drug prices. Big Pharma’s allies in Congress have already introduced legislation to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s prescription drug provisions, which would increase drug costs for millions of seniors.

PRESS CALL

WHO:
U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04)
Will Humble, Executive Director, Arizona Public Health Association
Dora Vasquez, Executive Director, Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
Kathy Saulsberry, Arizona Patient, and Health Care Advocate 

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHEN: Tuesday, July 25 at 10 AM MST // 1 PM EDT

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

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY JULY 20 AT 1 PM EDT***

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, Michiganders Are Saving on Health Care Costs

LANSING, MI – On Thursday, July 20 at 1 PM EDT, U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten, Michigan State Representative Will Snyder, and health care advocates will join Protect Our Care Michigan to discuss the Biden-Harris administration’s next steps in implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. The administration released the final guidance outlining the process for negotiation, and by Sept. 1, the 10 drugs that are selected for the first round of price negotiations will be announced. 

Speakers will also discuss a new fact sheet from Protect Our Care outlining how the Inflation Reduction Act reduces health care costs for Michiganders— with even more savings on the way as the law’s provisions to give Medicare the power to negotiate and cap seniors’ prescription drug costs take effect. The new fact sheet follows new polling that shows the health care measures in the Inflation Reduction Act are the most popular in the entire bill.

This event comes as Republicans and big drug companies are attacking the Inflation Reduction Act in Congress and the courts. Pharmaceutical giants Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Astellas Pharma, and Johnson & Johnson-owned Janssen Pharmaceuticals, as well as the industry’s trade association PhRMA, are laser-focused on undermining the Inflation Reduction Act by filing lawsuits to protect their profits and stop the administration from negotiating lower drug prices. Big Pharma’s GOP allies in Congress have already introduced legislation to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s prescription drug provisions, which would increase drug costs for millions of seniors.

PRESS CALL

WHO:
U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03)
Michigan State Representative Will Snyder (D-87th District)
Rick Hainer, a senior citizen from Muskegon
Derrick Collins, Independent Living Team Manager, Grand Rapids-based Disability Advocates

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

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

WHEN: Thursday, July 20, at 1 PM EDT

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 19 AT 11:00 AM // 12:00 PM EDT***

Braidwood Management v. Becerra Targets Lifesaving Preventive Care for More than 150 Million Americans 

MADISON, WI — On Wednesday, July 19th at 11:00 AM CDT // 12:00 PM EDT, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, Vivent Health Interim President and CEO Brandon Hill, Ph.D., and Mona Williams of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will join Protect Our Care Wisconsin to discuss U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires free coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services. 

Judge O’Connor’s decision in Braidwood Management v. Becerra would end the ACA’s guaranteed free access to essential preventive services including lifesaving cancer screenings, and more. In 2020 alone, more than 150 million Americans benefited from these preventive services. 

More than 300 experts, including leading patient and provider groups, legal and public health experts, organized labor, and more have signed onto briefs calling for the Fifth Circuit to protect the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) no-cost preventive care provision that more than 150 million Americans currently rely on. 

Speakers will highlight what this decision could mean for Wisconsinites’ access to lifesaving health care services, and discuss what is to come as the lawsuit moves through the court system. 

PRESS EVENT

WHO:
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul
Brandon Hill, Vivent Health Interim President and CEO, Ph.D.
Mona Williams, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin

WHAT: Press Conference

WHERE: 600 Williamson St. Suite H, Madison, WI (RSVP to [email protected])

WHEN: Wednesday, July 19 at 11:00 AM CDT // 12:00 PM EDT

Two More Drug Companies Join Effort to Stop Medicare From Negotiating Lower Drug Prices 

Washington, D.C. – Today, Johnson & Johnson-owned Janssen Pharmaceuticals joined Astellas Pharma, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, PhRMA, and Chambers of Commerce in suing to stop Medicare from using its new power to negotiate lower drug prices. The lawsuits baselessly challenge the constitutionality of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Prescription Drug Negotiation Program, which will lower drug costs for millions of people on Medicare. Nearly one year ago, President Biden and Congressional Democrats achieved a historic victory against drug companies in enacting the Negotiation Program, making prescription drugs more affordable for American patients who pay up to four times more for the same drugs as people in other wealthy countries. 

In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued a statement:

“Drug companies’ greed knows no bounds. While Americans are cutting pills and skipping doses, pharmaceutical companies are putting all of their energy into suing the federal government to protect their ability to charge patients outrageous prices to pad their sky-high profits. Big drug companies spent record amounts on lobbying to kill the Inflation Reduction Act, and now they are doing everything in their power to stop the law from delivering lower costs to patients. The American people will suffer if drug companies get their way.”

Care Force One to Travel Across 16+ States, Make Over 30 Stops and Cover Nearly 8,000 Miles in Four Weeks Starting July 31

Washington, D.C. — Protect Our Care is announcing its fifth nationwide bus tour: Lower Costs, Better Care. From New Hampshire to California, elected officials, storytellers, and health care advocates will demonstrate how recent victories by President Biden and Democrats in Congress are already “Driving Down Health Care Costs” by thousands of dollars a year — with even more savings on the way. Kicking off on July 31, Care Force One will roll into districts and states for events to educate Americans about how the Inflation Reduction Act and other health care measures will improve care and lower costs for the American people. Over four weeks, Care Force One will travel to more than 16 states, make more than 30 stops, and travel nearly 8,000 miles. 

Protect Our Care’s bus tour kicks off just as Republicans are ramping up their war on health care. After spending more than $100 million to kill the Inflation Reduction Act, Big Pharma and their Republican allies in Congress are hard at work sabotaging this monumental progress in order to put profits over people. Right now, big drug companies are suing in court to try to take away Medicare’s power to negotiate, and Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to repeal all of the Inflation Reduction Act drug pricing measures. Republican lawmakers are also considering legislation to slash vital health care programs and recently passed a bill to promote junk plans that can discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions. 

The “Lower Costs, Better Care” four-week tour will promote the work of lawmakers who are fighting tirelessly to improve health care and hold Republicans accountable for trying to roll back this progress and hike costs and rip away protections from the American people.

“Care Force One will crisscross the nation this summer to highlight how President Biden and Democrats in Congress have delivered on their promise to drive down health care costs,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “We are working to make sure everyone understands how the Inflation Reduction Act could save them on their health care costs. This legislation touches nearly every household in America, whether you’re a senior or individual with a disability struggling to afford prescription drugs, a family purchasing coverage on your own, or a taxpayer who is sick and tired of lining the pockets of Big Pharma. Throughout the tour, people from all backgrounds will share what this bill means to them and their families and why they need their representatives to step up against any effort to roll back this monumental progress.” 

This summer, President Biden and Congressional Democrats are celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act. Between lowering premium costs by 151 percent on average, capping insulin costs, and stopping Big Pharma’s egregious price hikes, the new legislation is already working for the American people. Soon, seniors’ drug costs will be capped at $2,000 annually, and Medicare will finally be able to negotiate lower drug prices — no thanks to Republicans who unanimously voted to maintain the status quo and keep health care costs high. 

The Inflation Reduction Act By the Numbers

• 13 million Americans are saving on their health insurance premiums keeping over 2 million Americans insured and saving an average of $2,400 per family.
• 52 million Medicare beneficiaries will no longer face Big Pharma’s outrageous price hikes that outpace inflation.
• $35 insulin copays per prescription for Medicare beneficiaries
• 19 million people with Medicare will save an average of $400 thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s $2,000 annual cost caps 
• 80 of the most expensive prescription drugs will have lower prices because of Medicare negotiations by 2030.

Protect Our Care’s Care Force One will make stops in:
Manchester, New Hampshire on Monday, July 31, 2023
Keene, New Hampshire on Monday, July 31, 2023
Syracuse, New York on Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Kingston, New York on Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Valhalla, New York on Wednesday, August 2, 2023
New York City, New York on Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Scranton, Pennsylvania on Thursday, August 3, 2023
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Thursday, August 3, 2023
Connellsville, Pennsylvania on Friday, August 4, 2023
Youngston, Ohio on Monday, August 7, 2023
Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Lansing, Michigan on Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Eau Claire/La Crosse, Wisconsin on Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Milwaukee/Madison, Wisconsin on Thursday, August 10, 2023
St. Paul, Minnesota on Friday, August 11, 2023
Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday, August 14, 2023
Bakersfield, California on Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Los Angeles, California on Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Orange County, California on Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Palm Springs, California on Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Phoenix, Arizona on Thursday, August 17, 2023
Tucson, Arizona on Thursday, August 17, 2023
Albuquerque, New Mexico on Friday, August 18, 2023
Columbus, Georgia on Monday, August 21, 2023
Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, August 21, 2023
Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Greensboro, North Carolina on Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Raleigh, North Carolina on Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Norfolk, Virginia on Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Richmond, Virginia on Thursday, August 24, 2023
Wilmington, Delaware on Thursday, August 24, 2023 

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Approaching the One Year Anniversary, Support for the Inflation Reduction Act Remains Strong

New Navigator polling reveals that voters overwhelmingly support the Inflation Reduction Act’s measures to reduce prescription drug and health care costs, with health care provisions being 4 of the 5 most popular items in the landmark bill. An overwhelming 82 percent of voters support capping insulin costs for seniors to $35 per prescription a month, 81 percent support giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, 77 percent support capping drug costs at $2,000, and 76 percent support lowering health insurance premiums. Overall, Americans support the Inflation Reduction Act by 43 points (66-23). 

Many of the reforms that have the most public support are also the ones the public is most likely to associate with the Inflation Reduction Act, including Medicare negotiating lower drug prices (81%), capping insulin (79%), and limiting drug costs (73%).

The survey shows that Republicans overwhelmingly support the prescription drug provisions passed by President Biden and Congressional Democrats. Despite Republican lawmakers introducing legislation to repeal these policies, 71% of Republicans support Medicare drug price negotiation and 70% support capping out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors at $2,000 per year.

In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:

“The American people are loud and clear that reducing the cost of health care is their top priority. President Biden and Congressional Democrats are delivering thousands of dollars a year in lower costs for millions of people. Meanwhile, Republicans are continuing their war on health care, promising to overturn the Inflation Reduction Act and supporting Big Pharma’s meritless lawsuits. Once again, Republicans are putting greed above the economic interests of Americans. When will they learn how unpopular their war on health care is with the vast majority of voters?” 

When asked if the Inflation Reduction Act will help families like theirs, a majority of voters (52%) said yes it would. 

This poll not only shows policies that lower health care costs are the most popular, but people also identify the Inflation Reduction Act as a health care bill.