Democratic Party - Democratic National Committee

09/30/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/30/2024 20:39

NEW: Biden Harris Admin’s Latest Action Saves Seniors Thousands on Medication, Trump Vance Project 2025 Would Raise Drug Costs on 18 Million Seniors Arrow

In response to the latest announcement from the Biden-Harris administration on lower prescription drug prices, DNC National Press Secretary ⁨Emilia Rowland⁩ released the following statement:

"Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration, America's seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare will soon pay less for 54 prescription drugs they depend on to treat conditions like cancer, osteoporosis, and pneumonia. The historic cost-savings in the Inflation Reduction Act will bring down costs for 822,000 Americans, and some seniors will save more than $3,800 per day. The contrast couldn't be more clear: After spending his first term desperately trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act on behalf of Big Pharma CEOs, Trump and Vance are threatening to do it again, and go even further with their Project 2025 plans to repeal the insulin price cap in the Inflation Reduction Act. All told, the Trump-Vance ticket would skyrocket health care costs for over 18 million Americans. Vice President Harris cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate for the Inflation Reduction Act without a single Republican vote, and as president she will hold Big Pharma accountable and continue lowering costs for seniors and all Americans."

Today, President Biden and Vice President Harris announced that they will bring down prices for 54 more prescription drugs thanks to Democrats' historic Inflation Reduction Act, which passed with Vice President Harris casting the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.

The White House: "Today, our Administration is announcing that starting in October, seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare will pay less for 54 Part B prescription drugs. That means more money will go back into the pockets of people with Medicare - including some of the 822,000 seniors and people with disabilities who use these drugs annually to treat conditions like cancer, osteoporosis, and pneumonia, and some seniors will save more than $3,800 per day."

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: "Because of the Biden-Harris lower cost prescription drug law, the Inflation Reduction Act, which established the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program, some people with Medicare who use these drugs in the last quarter of 2024 may save between $1 and $3,854 per day. For example, someone taking a drug called Kymriah, which treats cancer, could save as much as $3,000."

The Hill: "Inflation Reduction Act rebates yield savings for 54 Medicare Part B drugs"

"The 54 drugs announced by HHS will have a lowered Part B coinsurance rate starting on Oct. 1 through the end of 2024."

A Harris-Walz administration will continue to build on this historic work: extending the $35/month price cap on insulin for all Americans, accelerating the speed of Medicare negotiations to lower costs, and increasing competition and demanding transparency in the healthcare industry.

Harris for President Report, A New Way Forward for The Middle Class: "Vice President Harris and Governor Walz will chart a New Way Forward that not only protects these achievements but builds on them by expanding the Inflation Reduction Act's cost-saving provisions to benefit all Americans.

"They will:

  • Extend the $35 cap on insulin and $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket costs to all Americans, not just seniors. This action would bring significant relief for middle-class Americans who struggle with their prescription costs every day.
  • Accelerate the speed of Medicare prescription drug negotiations. This will build on the Biden-Harris Administration's work to allow Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs and cut the cost of some of the most expensive and most commonly used drugs by approximately 40 percent to 80 percent starting in 2026. Vice President Harris will allow Medicare to accelerate the speed of negotiations so the prices of more drugs come down faster.
  • Increase competition and demand transparency in the healthcare industry. Vice President Harris will crack down on pharmaceutical companies that block competition and abusive practices by pharmaceutical middlemen who squeeze small pharmacies' profits and raise costs for consumers."

While the IRA is lowering prescription drug costs, Trump and Vance's Project 2025 agenda and extreme congressional Republicans threaten to rip away affordable health care access from millions of Americans.

Axios: "How Trump could weaken Medicare drug pricing negotiations"

Daily Beast: "Trump Revives Plan to Dismantle Obamacare if Elected in 2024"

The Hill: "On the campaign trail, Trump has doubled down on his promise to repeal the ACA, a feat he fell one vote short of in 2017."

NOTUS: "Vance suggested overhauling Obamacare would still be a priority."

Axios: "RSC budget revives conservative health priorities"

"The Republican Study Committee today laid out a budget proposal that suggests a health policy blueprint if the GOP controls the White House and at least one chamber of Congress next year…

"The health care section … calls for killing the Inflation Reduction Act and its drug price provisions. … It would remove many of the Affordable Care Act's protections for pre-existing conditions."

Reuters: "Biden, Harris hail Medicare drug price cuts that will save billions"

Trump's only "concept of a plan" on health care is his Project 2025 agenda, which includesrolling back cost-saving measures on health care and prescription drugs from millions of Americans.

Harris for President Report, The Trump-Vance "Concept" on Health Care: "After nearly a decade of endlessly promising to reveal his health care plan, Donald Trump claims he only has "concepts of a plan." The truth is he does have a plan- he just doesn't want voters to know about it. His plan adds up to this: eliminating health insurance and raising costs for tens of millions of Americans, including those with preexisting conditions, seniors, small business owners, working families, pregnant women, and kids."

Question: "You have long vowed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare… Do you have a plan and can you tell us what it is?"

[…]

Trump: "I have concepts of a plan."

Trump's Real Project 2025 Plan: Trump's Project 2025 agenda would accelerate efforts to privatize Medicare and raise prescription drug prices including by getting rid of the $35/month insulin price cap for seniors established thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris' historic Inflation Reduction Act.