News

Washington, DC — Today, President Biden proposed a budget that will protect and strengthen Medicare, cut drug prices, and crack down on wasteful spending by Big Pharma. The proposal caps insulin at $35 for those on private insurance, provides affordable coverage in states that have failed to expand Medicaid, broadens Medicare’s power to negotiate lower drug prices, extends coverage to women for a full year after they’ve had a baby, extends Medicare solvency, and makes enhanced ACA subsidies permanent. The policies outlined are in direct opposition to the Republican threats to defund Medicare and Medicaid and to repeal the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. Biden’s budget is estimated to save billions in the long run and expand lower costs for millions of Americans.

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

“This budget is a reminder that President Biden is laser-focused on delivering lower cost, better health care to hard-working Americans. By building on the success of the Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden is making sure working people and seniors will have lower costs for coverage and prescription drugs, so families have a little breathing room.

“On the other hand, Republicans refuse to give up on their radical effort to raise costs and rip away health care from millions of Americans. Their proposal of massive cuts to the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and Medicare would be disastrous for the American people, disproportionately impacting children, rural Americans, people with disabilities, and people of color. President Biden made it clear in his proposed budget that he will not let Republicans hold our economy and the American people hostage.”

HEADLINES:

STAT: Biden Makes Drug Pricing A Central Part Of His Deficit Reduction Plans. “Another Medicare pilot program to make an appearance in the president’s budget, though not by name, is a plan to limit Medicare Part D cost-sharing to $2 on generic drugs for chronic conditions, such as hypertension and high cholesterol. It’s not clear whether the policy is a copy of the pilot program or a way of skipping that experiment and moving straight to a national policy. A separate budget policy proposes to extend Medicaid drug rebates to states’ Children’s Health Insurance Programs, for an estimated savings of $2.3 billion over 10 years. The budget also calls for extending Medicare’s $35 monthly cap on insulin out-of-pocket costs to people with private insurance. The measure is popular with voters in both parties, but Republicans blocked legislation from Democrats last year that would have made that cap law. More than 1 in 5 insulin users with private insurance pay more than $35 a month for the medicine, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.” [STAT News, 3/9/23]

Wall Street Journal: Biden Budget to Propose Saving Hundreds of Billions by Cutting Drug Prices, Fraud. “The White House said the budget will outline a plan requiring that insurance companies that run Medicaid Managed Care programs pay back Medicaid if companies charge more than the cost of patient care. In managed care, the state contracts with private insurance companies to provide the benefits on behalf of the state. States pay the managed-care company generally a set amount each month. The proposal would save $20 billion over 10 years, the White House said, and is similar to what is already required of Medicare Managed Care plans. More than 70% of Medicaid enrollees are in managed-care plans, and the numbers are expected to increase. A series of new prescription drug-related proposals would save more than $200 billion over a decade by imposing new rules on the pharmaceutical industry, according to the White House. The budget plan would allow Medicare to negotiate prices for more drugs and bring them into negotiation sooner after they launch. This proposal has been criticized by PhRMA, the trade group for the pharmaceutical industry, which says it will mean less revenue for research and development of new drugs.” [Wall Street Journal, 3/9/23]

Axios: Biden’s “Finish The Job” Budget: $35 Insulin Cap At Center Of Plan. “President Biden will use the release of his FY2024 budget Thursday to pressure Republicans to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for all Americans, according to administration officials. Why it matters: By putting Biden’s insulin cap at the center of his budget rollout, the White House is previewing the populist tone that will course throughout his expected re-election campaign. White House budgets are always political documents, but Biden is leaning into making this year’s proposal a virtual campaign manifesto. He also wants to lay potential traps for the new — and thin — GOP House majority as both sides position themselves for a big summer showdown on how to raise the debt ceiling and whether to cut any spending. […] What they’re saying: ‘The President, like 7 in 10 Americans, thinks it is unacceptable that Congressional Republicans continue to block common-sense legislation to cap the cost for all Americans in need of insulin,’ White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told Axios. ‘If the MAGA Republicans get their way, seniors will pay higher out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs and insulin, the deficit will be bigger, and Medicare will be weaker,’ Biden wrote in the New York Times op-ed on Tuesday.” [Axios, 3/9/23]

The Epoch Times: Republicans Denounce Biden’s Budget, but Haven’t Provided an Alternative of Their Own. “While Republicans are united in their opposition to the Biden budget, they remain a house divided in drafting a plan of their own. Republicans are reportedly preparing three budget proposals, one each from the House Budget Committee, the Republican Study Committee, and the Freedom Caucus. Emmer alluded to the division in the Republicans’ press conference on Mar. 8, which was intended as a call for bipartisanship in the wake of a joint briefing with House Democrats by the Congressional Budget Office. ‘You can’t make a difference on your own. You got to do it with other people, and Kevin McCarthy has literally started to bring both sides of this—all side—because it’s not that easy anymore. It’s not just both sides,’ Emer said in an apparent reference to factions within the Republican caucus. Biden said he believes the Republican objective to reduct [sic] the deficit without increasing taxes or cutting Social Security, Medicare, or defense spending is unachievable. ‘How are they going to make the math work?’ Biden asked. ‘What are they going to cut?’ He suggest [sic] that Republicans cannot make their vision work without cutting social programs that many Americans depend on. The president acknowledged that he and the Republicans have a different vision for the economy, but said he is willing to work together to reconcile their proposals. ‘I’m ready to meet with the speaker anytime, tomorrow if he has a budget,’ the president said. He proposed to compare their positions line-by-line and come to an agreement.” [The Epoch Times, 3/9/23]

Bloomberg Law: Biden Puts Drug Pricing at Front of Medicare Spending Debate. “President Joe Biden is doubling down on efforts to curb what Medicare and Medicaid pay for medicines, a proposal that would allow reductions in Medicare spending without changing benefits or physician pay. Biden’s fiscal 2024 budget request, released Thursday, called for extending the Inflation Reduction Act (Public Law 117-169) inflation rebates to the commercial market and expanding the number and scope of drugs that will soon face government negotiations. Currently, the law allows only Medicare to collect rebates from drug manufacturers that raise prices on products faster than the rate of inflation, and focuses negotiation only on older medicines. The budget also requests higher spending for the Department of Health and Human Services to extend certain health programs. Presidential budgets are largely symbolic documents, pointing to policies that administrations want to focus on. The administration’s proposal for health programs has a major focus on curbing drug spending.” [Bloomberg Law, 3/9/23] 

Modern Healthcare: Biden Budget Plan Outlines Health Priorities. “The federal government would save $20 billion over 10 years by constraining payments to Medicaid insurers, according to the White House. The budget proposal also expands on Biden’s previously announced behavioral health agenda by calling for reduced out-of-pocket costs for Medicare enrollees, mental health workforce development and parity for mental health coverage under private health insurance. Other highlights from Biden’s fiscal 2024 budget plan include: Health insurance exchanges: The White House would permanently extend enhanced subsidies for health insurance exchange users. Medicaid: Biden’s budget calls for the creation of a federally funded ‘Medicaid-like’ coverage plan to provide benefits to low-income adults in states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The plan also would expand home- and community-based services for Medicaid beneficiaries. […] Prescription drug prices: Biden proposes expanding on the Inflation Reduction Act by allowing the federal government to set prices on a broader array of medicines, cap cost-sharing for some generic pharmaceuticals under Medicare Part D at $2, beef up Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program drug rebates, and require drugmakers to refund private customers when they increase prices at a rate that exceeds inflation.” [Modern Health, 3/9/23]

Endpoints News: Biden Budget Wants To More Than Double Number Of Negotiated Drugs Under Medicare, And Eliminate Hepatitis C. “President Joe Biden on Thursday unveiled his 2024 budget, which is packed with lofty goals that may never see the light of day because Congress controls the federal purse strings and Republicans control the House. Even still, the wide-ranging budget looks to immediately build off the Inflation Reduction Act by rapidly expanding the number of drugs that will be negotiated and decreasing the amount of time that small and large molecule drugs will go without negotiations, from 10 years for small molecules and 13 years for biologics to just five years for both small and large molecule drugs. The shift would have a much more significant impact on biopharma R&D than the original IRA, which the Congressional Budget Office projected would cut only about 10 drugs over 30 years.” [Endpoints News, 3/9/23]

Healthcare Dive: Biden’s Proposed HHS Budget Aims To Make Pandemic-Era Subsidies Permanent. “President Biden’s proposed fiscal year 2024 budget for the HHS targets healthcare access for underserved populations and aims to make premium Affordable Care Act subsidies permanent. Released Thursday, the budget also proposes to extend Medicare solvency and give the federal government more power to negotiate prescription drug prices. It allocates $144.3 billion in discretionary funding to the agency, up from $127.3 billion in 2023, and aims to reduce the federal deficit by nearly $3 trillion over the next decade. The HHS proposes to allocate $183 billion over the next 10 years to make enhanced tax credits, enacted originally under the American Rescue Plan and extended into 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act, permanent. With the subsidies, enrollment in Marketplace plans soared during the coronavirus pandemic, contributing to a record-low rate of uninsured Americans and a record-high number of ACA plan enrollees. Last month, the CMS announced a record 16.3 million people had signed up during the 2023 open enrollment session.” [Healthcare Dive, 3/9/23]

Congressional Republicans Have No Plan to Extend the Life of Medicare and Have Vowed to Repeal Medicare’s Power to Negotiate Lower Drug Prices 

Washington DC — Today, President Biden announced a plan to extend the solvency of the Medicare trust fund beyond 2050, ensuring that seniors and near seniors have access to this vital health care program for years to come. The proposed budget also builds on the work of the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act to strengthen Medicare’s power to negotiate lower drug prices and ensure the wealthiest Americans earning more than $400,000 per year pay their fair share in taxes. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“President Biden is taking a stand to protect our nation’s seniors. While Republicans are working overtime to hold our economy hostage so they can slash vital health care programs, President Biden has made clear he will not back down from his promises to the American people. Democrats have worked hard to put seniors first, whether by giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices, capping insulin costs, or providing free vaccines. These measures have already lowered costs for millions, especially for seniors of color and rural seniors. This plan will build on this work to ensure Medicare is secure for another generation without raising costs or cutting benefits for seniors who have worked hard their entire lives. This plan to protect Medicare is essential to making affordable health care a right and not just a privilege for every American.”

Watch the Full Video Here.

This week, Eli Lilly announced that the company would limit the cost of insulin to $35 per month, following pressure from the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress. At the State of the Union address, President Biden called on drug companies to finish the job of the Inflation Reduction Act and bring down insulin prices for patients. Lowering insulin costs will give millions of families more breathing room — especially rural Americans and people of color who are more likely to suffer from diabetes and struggle to afford their health care costs. 

News coverage makes clear that Eli Lilly’s insulin cap will help millions of patients afford this lifesaving medication and that it is the direct result of President Biden and Congressional Democrats passing the insulin cap for seniors last year. Republicans, on the other hand, fought hard to prevent the insulin cap from taking effect and continue to advocate for repealing it altogether. 

Background:

FACT SHEET: Millions of Seniors Are Saving Big Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s $35 Insulin Cap

STATEMENT: President Biden and Congressional Democrats Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act Paves the Way for Eli Lilly to Expand $35 Insulin Cap to Everyone

HEADLINES: “Bringing Relief For Millions,” Eli Lilly Caps Insulin Costs At $35 Per Month For Everyone (Thanks to President Biden and Democrats in Congress) 

Watch the Ad Here. 

Washington, DC — Protect Our Care is releasing a new TV ad calling out big insurance companies for their lies about Medicare Advantage. Over the past several weeks, the insurance industry has been running a massive advertising campaign to scare seniors into believing the Biden administration is cutting Medicare. 

In reality, the administration is proposing to increase spending on Medicare Advantage by approximately $4 billion while protecting the program from fraud and abuse by insurance companies. These efforts will improve the quality of Medicare Advantage plans – particularly for underserved populations, strengthen program integrity, and save the Medicare Trust Fund over $15 billion. 

“We must set the record straight for seniors,” said Protect Our Care Leslie Dach. “It is shameful that insurance companies are trying to scare seniors in an effort to protect their sky-high profits. The reality is the Biden administration is working to strengthen Medicare.”

Background:

Medicare Advantage plans are driving insurance industry growth and profits, and insurers are trying to protect their sky-high margins by spreading falsehoods about the administration’s proposed payment update. There is widespread evidence of the insurance industry hurting seniors and padding their sky-high profits through gaming, fraud, and abuse of Medicare Advantage. Voters overwhelmingly support cracking down on Medicare Advantage insurance companies that are gaming the system by making patients appear sicker than they are in order to receive overpayments from the government. See our factsheets for more:

FACT SHEET: Insurers Care More About Big Profits Than Serving Dual-Eligible Seniors

FACT SHEET: Insurance Companies Are Making Billions in Profits on Medicare Advantage 

Ad Script:

We’re hearing a lot from insurance companies about Medicare these days.

What we’re not hearing is the truth.

Insurance companies are lying to America’s seniors about cuts to Medicare Advantage benefits.

Experts agree what they are saying is just plain false.

Health insurance companies are simply trying to stop cuts to their skyhigh profits, CEO salaries and bonuses.

Big surprise, huh?

Call Congress: Tell them it’s time to stop insurance company greed and put America’s seniors and taxpayers first.

Today, Eli Lilly announced that the company would limit the cost of insulin to $35 per month, expanding the Inflation Reduction Act’s cap to everyone. Lowering insulin costs will give millions of families more breathing room — especially rural Americans and people of color who are more likely to suffer from diabetes and struggle to afford their health care costs. Coverage makes clear Eli Lilly’s insulin cap will help millions of patients afford this lifesaving medication and that this is the direct result of President Biden and Congressional Democrats passing the insulin cap for seniors last year. Republicans, on the other hand, fought hard to prevent the insulin cap from taking effect and continue to advocate for repealing it altogether. 

HEADLINES:

NBC News: Drugmaker Eli Lilly Caps The Cost Of Insulin At $35 A Month, Bringing Relief For Millions. “The cap automatically applies to people with private insurance. People without insurance will be eligible as long as they sign up for Eli Lilly’s copay assistance program. That program began providing insulin to patients — regardless of their insurance statuses — for no more than $35 a month in 2020 because of the pandemic. The cap applies to all of Eli Lilly’s insulin products, said Kelly Smith, a spokesperson for the company. In addition to the cost caps, the company will lower the list price for several of its products, including Humalog, this year.” [NBC News, 3/1/23]

The New York Times: Eli Lilly Says It Will Cut The Price Of Insulin. “The drug maker Eli Lilly and Company said on Wednesday that it would significantly reduce the prices of several of its lifesaving insulin products that are used by diabetes patients and whose prices Lilly has repeatedly increased in the past. Lilly also said it would cap at $35 a month what patients pay out of pocket for the drugmaker’s insulin products.” [The New York Times, 3/1/23]

NPR: Eli Lilly Cuts Price Of Insulin, Capping Drugs At $35 Per Month Out-Of-Pocket. “Lilly CEO David Ricks said in a statement that it will take time for insurers and the pharmacy system to implement its price cuts, so the drugmaker will immediately cap monthly out-of-pocket costs at $35 for people who are not covered by Medicare’s prescription drug program. The drugmaker said the cap applies to people with commercial coverage and at most retail pharmacies. Lilly said people without insurance can find savings cards to receive insulin for the same amount at its InsulinAffordability.com website.” [NPR, 3/1/23]

The Washington Post: Eli Lilly To Cut Insulin Prices By 70 Percent. “Eli Lilly said it is slashing the prices of commonly prescribed insulin drugs by 70 percent while capping related out-of-pocket costs at $35 a month, a move meant to help address long-standing concerns about the high cost of diabetes care… Some 7 million Americans require insulin daily. A Yale University study published in July 2022 found that 14 percent of those insulin users are spending at least 40 percent of their income after food and housing costs on the medicine.” [The Washington Post, 3/1/23]

The Wall Street Journal: Eli Lilly To Cut Prices Of Insulin Drugs By 70%, Cap Patient Costs To $35. “The company also said that on May 1 it would reduce the list price of an unbranded insulin it sells to $25 a vial from $82 a vial, the lowest level for any insulin that diabetes patients take around mealtimes, and less than Lilly’s list price for a Humalog vial in 1999. And it plans to improve a program capping patients’ out-of-pocket costs at $35 a month.” [The Wall Street Journal, 3/1/23]

Call Comes After President Biden Delivered a Speech Vowing to Protect Medicaid and the ACA From Latest GOP Attacks

Watch the Full Event Here.

Washington DC — Today Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), Representatives Tony Cárdenas (D-CA-29) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) joined Protect Our Care to call out Republicans for their efforts to cut Medicaid and dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA). During the call, speakers discussed how the GOP remains committed to ripping away protections for pre-existing conditions, raising premiums, and throwing millions off their coverage. 

The Republican plan would be catastrophic for the American people and disproportionately impact children, rural Americans, people with disabilities, and people of color. People would lose their health insurance and important benefits like preventive services and maternity care, and pay more for prescription drugs and insurance premiums. Read more here. 

“At the beginning of the year, the House Republicans came right out of the gate to give big tax handouts to the wealthy. What a clear statement about their priorities – that is what they wanted to do out of the gate,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR).  “What’s gonna happen if they have their way? We saw it in 2017. They’ll support an America where Medicaid and the ACA no longer exist as we know it. We ought to be taking care of everyone with these vital programs.”

“Republicans are once again holding secret meetings to plot ways to repeal the ACA and make deep cuts to Medicaid. They know it’s deeply unpopular, and that’s why they’re hiding behind closed doors and refusing to publicly release their proposals,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06). “While Republicans may not be ready to unveil their devastating plan to take away Americans’ health care, Democrats are more than ready to make our plans clear. We’re going to fight like hell to lower health care costs and ensure all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care.” 

“Over 27% of Americans are enrolled in the Medicaid program,” said U.S. Representative Tony Cárdenas (D-CA-29). “That’s 91 million people whose lives are changed for the better, and many of them are in my majority-Latino district, where we have historically seen huge disparities in insurance coverage. Many families in the Northeast San Fernando Valley rely on Medicare and Medicaid to access the care they need. Quality health care is not a luxury or an ‘unnecessary expense’ that we can cut. I’m grateful to be working alongside my colleagues and Protect Our Care to fight for and expand these programs.”

“As a nation, our values are judged by how we help our most vulnerable citizens. Whether our neighbors are struggling financially or growing older in age, these programs have helped millions of Americans live healthy and vibrant lives. We should be protecting and expanding these programs, not undercutting their funding. Medicare and Medicaid have proven to be among the most successful programs in American history and are true pillars of our values,” said U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06). 

“If Republicans get their way, health care costs would go up for 15 million Americans and more than 20 million Americans could lose coverage. The GOP wants to return to a time when insurance companies could charge more or throw you off your coverage if you have a pre-existing condition like asthma, diabetes, or cancer,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “Republicans cannot hold our economy and the American people hostage so they can slash vital health care programs. The GOP plan would be disastrous for our country, and especially for rural Americans, children, people with disabilities, and communities of color. Democrats will not rest until Republicans back down from their attacks on Medicaid and the ACA.” 

Yesterday, President Biden delivered a speech in Virginia Beach to call out Republicans for their relentless threats to slash Medicaid and dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For months Republicans have openly stated their goal for their House majority – to gut health care programs rather than make companies and the wealthy pay their fair share. GOP lawmakers are relying on Russ Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under former President Trump, as they draft a right-wing budget proposal to slash vital programs. 

Vought’s plan would drive up costs for almost 15 million Americans and eliminate coverage altogether for more than 20 million people while also removing vital protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions. The plan would be catastrophic for the American people and disproportionately impact children, rural Americans, and people of color. People would lose their health insurance and important benefits like preventive services and maternity care, and pay more for prescription drugs and insurance premiums. Headlines make clear President Biden is committed to protecting American families from the latest GOP attacks on health care.

HEADLINES:

The Virginian-Pilot: Biden Speaks On Health Care In Virginia Beach, Slams GOP. “President Joe Biden came to Virginia Beach on Tuesday afternoon, seeking to contrast his health-care proposals with those of congressional Republicans. Biden made his remarks at the Kempsville Recreation Center, in the congressional district now represented by Republican Jen Kiggans. The person Kiggans defeated for that seat, Elaine Luria, was among the attendees. Biden accused Republicans of wanting to lower taxes on large companies and the richest Americans while cutting benefits offers by Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. ‘Make no mistake, MAGA Republicans will try to take away people’s health care by cutting Medicaid and the ACA,’ he said. ‘I will stop them.’ He described MAGA Republicans as ‘a different kind of cat’ compared to other Republicans who are more open to compromise. Biden also said Democrats voted to raise the debt ceiling as the national debt grew from under $20 trillion to $26.9 trillion in the Donald Trump administration. He said his health care reforms would also bring down costs for government, and celebrated the Inflation Reduction Act that allows Medicare Part D to negotiate drug prices which is estimated to save $10 billion over the next decade.” [The Virginian-Pilot, 2/28/23]

AP: Biden Warns of ‘MAGA’ Republicans’ Desire to Cut Spending. “President Joe Biden on Tuesday said GOP lawmakers could put millions of people’s health care at risk, honing his message ahead of the release of his budget plan next week as Republicans push for him to negotiate over spending levels.” [Associated Press, 3/1/23] 

PBS: Biden Warns Of Republicans Putting Affordable Health Care At Risk During Visit To Virginia Beach. “President Joe Biden on Tuesday said GOP lawmakers could put millions of people’s health care at risk, honing his message ahead of the release of his budget plan next week as Republicans push for him to negotiate over spending levels. The Democratic president spoke at a recreation center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. His remarks were part of a broader effort this week to contrast his administration’s priorities with those of Republicans who have yet to spell out their budget cuts. Using past proposals, Biden said the GOP could try to slash Medicaid and Obamacare benefits, as well as Social Security and Medicare. ‘What are they going to cut? That’s the big question,” Biden said Tuesday. “For millions of Americans, health care hangs in the balance.’” [PBS, 2/28/23]

Washington Post: Biden Has A New Health-Care Attack Line. “It’s pretty clear: President Biden believes health care is a potent campaign message. No, he hasn’t yet announced whether he’s running for a second term. But if the past few weeks serve as a preview, then the White House believes portraying Republicans as a threat to Americans’ health care is a political winner. After hammering Republicans on Medicare and Social Security for weeks, Biden pivoted yesterday to framing the GOP as a danger to Medicaid and Obamacare. ‘Look, make no mistake: If MAGA Republicans try to take away people’s health care by gutting Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, I will stop them,’ Biden said during a speech in Virginia Beach. When it comes to health care, Democrats have long believed they have the advantage over Republicans, and both Medicaid and Obamacare have proven to be broadly popular. Republicans failed to repeal the law in 2017 after repeatedly pledging to do so. The party ran into resistance for attempting deep cuts to Medicaid, with several GOP governors even up in arms at the proposals, and some health experts have since dubbed the safety net program a ‘potential new third rail’ of American politics.” [The Washington Post, 3/1/23]

USA Today: ‘Health Care Hangs In The Balance’: Biden Expands Attacks On GOP Over Budget Cuts. “After pounding away at Republicans over Social Security and Medicare, President Joe Biden on Tuesday broadened his attack. Biden accused Republicans of wanting to slash two other benefit programs: Obamacare and Medicaid. ‘For millions of Americans, health care hangs in the balance,’ Biden said. ‘If MAGA Republicans try to take away people’s health care by gutting Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, I will stop them.’ He made that pledge Tuesday when visiting a crossover congressional district in Virginia that he carried in 2020 but that Republicans flipped in November’s midterm elections. It’s part of the president’s drumbeat of calling on Republicans to lay out how they would reduce the deficit as the president prepares to send his own budget proposal to Congress next week.” [USA Today, 2/28/23]

Daily Mail (UK): ‘Maybe They Found Religion’: Biden Drags Republicans Who Now Say They Don’t Want To Cut Medicare And Social Security And Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene For Calling Him A ‘Liar’. “President Joe Biden told a Virginia Beach crowd that Republicans may have ‘found religion’ by wanting to protect Social Security and Medicare – but accused the GOP on Tuesday of planning cuts on health care for the poor and Obamacare. Biden also tipped his hand on the proposed White House budget that’s expected to be rolled out on March 9th, saying people earning less than $400,000 per year won’t pay ‘a penny’ on tax hikes he’s proposing. He said the budget plan would spell out ‘What we’re going to cut, what we’re going to spend, what we’re going to do. Just lay it on the table.’ After pounding Republicans for weeks over a plan by Florida Sen. Rick Scott to ‘sunset’ federal programs and require renewal votes in Congress, Biden is shifting the terrain to Medicaid. He said Republicans would be pulling out old plans to cut funding in order to meet their budget-cutting demands.” [Daily Mail, 2/28/23]

CNBC: Biden Warns Of GOP Plans To Curb Access To Health Care. “The speech comes a little over a week before the White House is scheduled to present Biden’s fiscal 2024 budget to Congress and as the White House and House Republicans continue to spar over spending cuts and the debt ceiling. Republicans have insisted that Biden cut spending as part of a deal to raise the debt limit — a proposition Biden won’t negotiate. While he agrees that federal spending needs to be curtailed, he’s vehemently opposed to tying it to the debt ceiling. Biden met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the White House earlier this month to discuss the topic, but no agreements were made. Lifting the debt limit does not authorize any new spending; it allows the government to borrow more money to cover existing commitments. And since the federal government consistently spends more than it takes in in tax revenue, lawmakers have to periodically raise the debt ceiling. Failing to lift the debt ceiling could lead to a government default on its debt and halt daily operations, causing potential turmoil to markets and the economy. The Treasury Department already launched a series of extraordinary steps to keep paying the government’s bills, and it expects those measures will be enough to avoid default at least until early June. But if Congress doesn’t raise or suspend the debt limit by then, it could wreak economic havoc around the world.” [CNBC, 2/28/23]

WVBT News: President Biden To Republicans On Healthcare: ‘Lay Proposal On The Table’. “President Joe Biden outlined the tenants of his health care proposal Tuesday during an address which contrasted his plans with that MAGA Republicans who he said would make deep cuts in programs that, in particular, support families and seniors. Biden gave his roughly 30-minute address to a mostly receptive and packed Kempsville Recreation Center gym in Virginia Beach, flying in and out of the city on Air Force One through Naval Air Station Oceana. Biden sought to highlight how the White House believes Congressional Republicans would raise health care costs, including for seniors, while causing millions of people to lose their coverage.” [WVBT News, 2/28/23]

Move Comes as Republicans Are Working to Repeal the Insulin Cap Now Benefiting Seniors

Washington DC — Today, Eli Lilly announced that the company would limit the cost of insulin to $35 per month, expanding the Inflation Reduction Act’s cap to everyone. This move is a game changer for millions of diabetes patients who depend on insulin and the direct result of President Biden and Congressional Democrats having passed the current cap for seniors last year. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“Thank you, President Biden. Eli Lilly’s announcement demonstrates what good policy can do. The Inflation Reduction Act laid the groundwork for Eli Lilly’s announcement by capping insulin costs for America’s seniors. This move will bring relief to even more patients who have struggled to keep up with the outrageous cost of insulin. Let’s be clear: this is the result of President Biden and Democrats in Congress fighting hard for patients. On the other hand, Republicans want to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s insulin cap entirely after they blocked legislation last year to extend the cap to everyone. President Biden is fighting to make sure every insulin-dependent diabetic can afford the drugs they need to stay alive; he won’t rest until that is a reality, and neither will we.”

Washington DC — Today, President Biden made a speech in Virginia Beach, VA to call out Republicans for their recent threats to slash Medicaid and dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For months Republicans have openly stated their goal for their House majority – to gut health care programs rather than make companies and the wealthy pay their fair share.

Republicans have promised to defund Medicare and Medicaid, and to repeal the Affordable and the Inflation Reduction Act. Recent press reports indicate that GOP lawmakers have been meeting with Russ Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under former President Trump, as they begin to draft a budget to use as part of their threat to tank the economy and default on the nation’s debt if President Biden doesn’t agree to slash health care and other programs.

Vought’s plan cuts $2 trillion from Medicaid and guts the Affordable Care Act, eliminating protections for pre-existing conditions, ripping coverage from 20 million Americans who rely on Medicaid, and raising premiums for nearly 15 million Americans who receive premium tax credits that make coverage affordable. Vought’s plan would be catastrophic for the American people and disproportionately impact children, rural Americans, and people of color. People will lose their health insurance and important benefits like preventive services and maternity care, and pay more for prescription drugs and insurance premiums.

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

“President Biden made it clear in his remarks today that he and Congressional Democrats are not going to let Republicans hold our economy and the American people hostage. Republicans are doubling down on their long history of attacking ACA and Medicaid through their budget proposals, which disproportionately affects rural Americans, people with disabilities, and communities of color. The GOP plan would be disastrous for our country, effectively repealing the ACA, driving up costs for almost 15 million Americans and eliminating coverage altogether for more than 20 million people while also removing vital protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions.

“President Biden won’t let the American people’s access to affordable health care be stripped away to justify an extreme right-wing budget. It’s the same old story, Democratic lawmakers want to expand health care while Republicans want to rip it away from the most vulnerable.”

BACKGROUND 

GONE: 2023 Republican Threat to the ACA

MEMO: Republican Threats to Health Care Are as Real as Ever