February 2023

Democrats in Congress Are Fighting to Finish the Job of the Inflation Reduction Act and Ensure No One Pays More Than $35 A Month Per Insulin Prescription 

Washington DC — Over the next two weeks, Protect Our Care will be spotlighting the Inflation Reduction Act’s lifesaving provision to cap insulin copays at $35 per month for millions of seniors. Through nationwide events, op-eds, and social media, Protect Our Care will highlight real stories of people saving hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on their insulin costs. The Inflation Reduction Act’s insulin cap took effect in January, benefiting more than three million seniors. 

Last year, Republicans in Congress blocked a provision that would have extended the cap to people with private insurance — putting Big Pharma’s profits over real people. Now, President Biden and Democrats in Congress are fighting to extend these savings to everyone. This would help an estimated 21 million patients afford this vital medication. 

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

“For far too long, Big Pharma has been pulling the strings while diabetics have been forced to ration or skip doses because of the outrageous price of insulin. The Inflation Reduction Act is a monumental step forward to rein in drug company greed, and the insulin cap in particular will save lives. Now, we must build on this progress and extend the insulin cap to everyone who needs it. Republicans’ stance on this issue has already put lives in jeopardy, but we will not quit until everyone can afford the drugs they need to stay alive.” 

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

Insulin copays have been capped at $35 a month for everyone on Medicare since January 1, 2023. President Biden and Democrats in Congress have been fighting tirelessly to put money back in the pockets of American seniors, and now their work is paying off. The $35 cap will change the lives of the millions of insulin users on Medicare who will no longer have to decide between affording the medication they need to survive or putting food on the table. Taking insulin as prescribed reduces the likelihood of costly complications such as vision loss, heart disease, and kidney disease.

BY THE NUMBERS

• 3.2 million seniors on Medicare will save money thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s $35 insulin cap.
• 1.5 million people on Medicare would have saved an average $500 in 2020 if the $35 insulin cap were in effect.
• Republicans in Congress blocked a universal insulin cap to help millions more Americans.

The Inflation Reduction Act Is A Game-Changer For Seniors. In 2020, there were more than 3.2 million insulin users relying on Medicare, with nearly 1.7 million purchasing their insulin without low-income subsidies. On average, seniors with Medicare Part D or B who are not receiving subsidies pay an average of $572 every year for this life saving medication — an unthinkable sum for many on fixed incomes. Patients who suffer chronic complications can expect to pay upwards of an additional $650 per year. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, insulin copays for people on Medicare will be capped at $35 each month starting on January 1st. A recent study showed that 1.5 million people on Medicare would have saved an average $500 in 2020 from the $35 insulin cap.

Affordable Insulin Saves Lives. As a result of outrageous costs, many seniors are forced to stop taking their medication or cut doses in half. Diabetics suffer severe effects, such as numbness in their feet and nerve damage in the eyes, when they stop taking doses as prescribed. The insulin cap provision in the Inflation Reduction Act will vastly improve the lives of millions of vulnerable insulin users, and it will save lives.

Affordable Insulin Directly Helps Seniors Of Color. People of color are disproportionately affected by diabetes when compared to their white counterparts with over 12 percent of Black adults and 11.8 percent of Hispanics being diagnosed with the disease. Black Americans also continue to be the hardest hit when it comes to affording their prescription drugs and paying medical bills. 

Rural Americans Disproportionately Struggle To Afford Their Insulin. According to a 2018 study, rural Americans are 17 percent more likely to suffer from diabetes than urban Americans. Diabetes risk factors are higher in rural areas than their urban and suburban counterparts as they have lower access to health care providers, fewer transportation options to receive care, and higher rates of being uninsured. 

Republicans Blocked Insulin Cap For Diabetics Not On Medicare. In early August, as the final negotiations were being made on the Inflation Reduction Act, Republicans in the Senate, unified together to make sure that the $35 insulin cap was not universal. In a country where 80 percent of diabetics have had to go into debt in order to pay for insulin, this type of action by Republicans reeks of the influence of Big Pharma. 

Watch the Video Here.

Yesterday, President Biden traveled to Florida to highlight the administration’s work to lower costs and strengthen health care for seniors. During the event, President Biden called out Governor Ron DeSantis for his failure to expand Medicaid to more than a million hardworking Floridians. President Biden made clear that Republicans’ war on Medicaid has only hurt Floridians and residents of 10 other states that have refused expansion. 

Research shows that Medicaid expansion reduces inequities in health care, strengthens state economies, prevents hospital closures, and saves lives. Importantly, expansion helps reduce racial disparities in health coverage, with the gap between uninsured rates in Black and white Americans decreased by 51 percent in states that expanded Medicaid coverage. Yet Republicans are committed to putting politics over real people and are not only refusing expansion, but are threatening to cut Medicaid along with Social Security and Medicare. 

Florida Phoenix: In The Sunshine State, Biden Makes The Case For Medicaid Expansion; Protects Social Security. “President Joe Biden appeared in Florida on Thursday before an intimate crowd at the University of Tampa, where he pledged to protect Social Security and Medicare and push for Medicaid expansion for vulnerable families. The president also drew a contrast with U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida and the architect of a plan that would sunset all federal legislation – including Social Security and Medicare every five years and requiring Congress to approve those programs again.” [Florida Phoenix, 2/9/23]

The Washington Post: Biden Targets Top Florida Republicans DeSantis, Scott Over Health Care In Tampa Stop. “Biden knocked DeSantis for refusing to expand subsidized health care with the help of the federal government and continued to attack Scott for a plan that would require Congress to reauthorize Social Security and Medicare every five years… Biden’s targeting of both DeSantis and Scott is no coincidence. The two are already beginning to draw national attention ahead of the upcoming election year in which DeSantis — fresh off a 19-point reelection victory in Florida last year — is widely expected to run for the GOP presidential nomination.” [The Washington Post, 2/9/23]

Bloomberg: Biden Assails DeSantis Over Health Benefits In Visit To Florida. “The visit to Florida is the latest effort by Biden to put Republicans on the back foot over proposals by some members of their caucus to cut or alter Medicare and Social Security programs as part of a push to slash federal spending — and to lay the groundwork for an expected reelection campaign. A 2024 run could pit Biden against DeSantis, who is widely expected to challenge former President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination… Proposed cuts to the programs are deeply unpopular — especially among seniors who are historically the demographic most likely to turn out during an election. Just 17% of Americans said they supported reducing spending on the program in an Economist/YouGov poll earlier this year, while seven in 10 Americans said they opposed any such move.” [Bloomberg, 2/9/23]

MarketWatch: Biden Criticizes DeSantis Over His Medicaid Stance While In Florida. “President Joe Biden on Thursday criticized a potential opponent in the 2024 White House race, going after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida while delivering a speech in Tampa. The president noted that Florida is among 11 states that have opted against expansions for Medicaid, the health-insurance program for the poor, that would be 90% funded by the federal government.” [MarketWatch, 2/10/23]

Politico: Biden’s Potential Lifeline For Florida Democrats. “During his short speech at the University of Tampa on Thursday, Biden touched on the tense exchange he had with Republicans on the House floor during his State of the Union address over cutting Medicare and Social Security, bringing up Sen. Rick Scott’s proposal to sunset the two programs in five years. Biden showed the pamphlet and read from it during the speech. “I reminded them that Florida’s own Rick Scott is the guy who ran the Senate campaign committee for Republicans last year,” Biden said. “Had a plan to sunset, maybe he changed his mind, maybe he’s seen the Lord, but he wanted to sunset, meaning if you don’t reauthorize it, it goes away. Sunset social security and Medicare every five years.”” [Politico, 2/9/23]

President Biden Defended Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid This Week As Republicans Continue to Lie About Their Disastrous Record

Watch President Biden Call Out Republicans Here. 

This week, President Biden delivered his State of the Union Address, where he highlighted Republican attacks on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. President Biden also traveled to Florida to discuss the administration’s work to lower costs and strengthen health care for seniors. During the event, President Biden called out Republicans like Ron DeSantis and Rick Scott for blocking Medicaid expansion in Florida and threatening to put Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare on the chopping block every five years. 

While President Biden is committed to protecting and expanding Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the GOP plan would like to slash these vital programs, raise premiums, reverse recent coverage gains, and hike prescription drug costs for the American people. 

Republicans Are On The Run From Their Long History Of Threatening Medicare, Medicaid, And Social Security

Several Republicans have hit back at President Biden — yet Republicans have been on record about destroying these programs for years now. Senator Mike Lee was quick to deny Republican attacks on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but a video quickly resurfaced of him saying “It will be my objective, to phase out Social Security, to pull it up by the roots and get rid of it…Medicare and Medicaid are of the same sort and need to be pulled out.” Even worse, lawmakers like Senator Ron Johnson have doubled down on his commitment to cut these programs and promoted his policies — even going as far as to call Social Security a “ponzi scheme.”

Recent coverage shows that Republicans have long tried to dismantle Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and that they continue to propose policies that threaten access to quality, affordable health coverage for millions. They cannot rewrite history to try to fool the American people.

The Hill: Scott Doubles Down On Sunsetting All Federal Programs After Biden’s Jab. “Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) on Wednesday defended his proposal to sunset all federal legislation after five years and slammed President Biden as ‘confused; in response to Biden’s claim at the State of the Union address that some Republicans want to sunset Social Security and Medicare. ‘In my plan, I suggested the following: All federal legislation sunsets in five years. If a law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again,’ Scott said in a statement following Biden’s address to a joint session of Congress.” [The Hill, 2/8/23] 

US Sen. Ron Johnson Stands By Medicare, Social Security Remarks After Being Called Out By President Joe Biden. “In a statement to Fox News, Johnson accused Biden of lying about him. But in an interview with WISN-AM in Milwaukee Thursday morning, Johnson stood by his plan, saying it was time to change the way Medicare and Social Security are funded. ‘We’ve got to put everything on-budget so we’re forced to prioritize spending,’ Johnson said. ‘That doesn’t mean putting on the chopping block. That doesn’t mean cutting Social Security. But it does mean prioritizing.’” [Wisconsin Public Radio, 2/9/23] 

Vanity Fair: Republicans Have Long Called to Cut Social Security and Medicare. “Senator Rick Scott, who, as chairman of the GOP’s Senate campaign committee last cycle, unveiled a plan to sunset all federal legislation, which includes Social Security and Medicare, in five years, opening the door for lapses or cuts. Just last summer, Senator Ron Johnson called for subjecting Medicare and Social Security to annual budget negotiations. Lindsey Graham declared entitlement reform a ‘must,’ and the House’s largest Republican caucus, the conservative Republican Study Committee, released a proposal that urged raising the eligibility age for both Medicare and Social Security, called for increased means testing in Medicare, and suggested a move toward privatization for Social Security.” [Vanity Fair, 2/8/23]

Business Insider: Kevin Hern Among House Republicans Who Don’t Want to Take Medicare and Social Security Cuts Out Of Debt Ceiling Negotiations. “They’ve introduced two pieces of legislation — the Trust Act and the Bipartisan Social Security Commission Act — to be included in a debt limit deal, which would create commissions to consider the solvency of Social Security and Medicare. Of the legislation, GOP Rep. Kevin Hern said he ‘wouldn’t think it’d be off the table.’ Hern’s proposals did not specifically address Medicare and Social Security, but Hern told Bloomberg creating a commission to evaluate the solvency of those programs could be a part of the negotiations to raise the debt ceiling.” [Business Insider, 2/6/23]

The Hill: What Have Republicans Actually Said About Social Security and Medicare? “At the center of the current debate over the federal entitlement programs is an 11-point plan released by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) last February, which called for all federal legislation to sunset after five years as part of an effort to curb government spending. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who has indicated that he is considering a bid for the presidency in 2024, said last week that a conversation needs to be had about reforming Social Security. When Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) initially ran for Senate in 2010, he called for the complete elimination of Social Security. Similar to Scott, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has suggested that Congress regularly renew the entitlement programs. However, Johnson has proposed that it be done on an annual basis.” [The Hill, 2/8/23]

Washington Informer: Biden Exposed Republican Plans to Cut Social Security and Medicare. “When Republicans like Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Utah Sen. Mike Lee interrupted President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address to call him a liar, they may have forgotten their own words… Sen. Mike Lee said, ‘One thing that you probably haven’t ever heard from a politician: it will be my objective to phase out Social Security. To pull it up by the roots and get rid of it.’ In November, John Thune, the number two Senate Republican in leadership, declared that Social Security and Medicare benefits should be slashed. Florida Sen. Rick Scott is championing a plan to put Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security on the chopping block every five years, which would put the health and economic security of 63 million Medicare beneficiaries, 69 million Medicaid beneficiaries and 65 million Social Security beneficiaries at risk. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin proposed sunsetting these laws every year. According to Politico, the Republican Study Committee, which includes most House Republicans, released a budget plan that would raise the entry age. The GOP would also raise taxes on some people who retire early or have a certain income, and they would privatize Social Security.” [Washington Informer, 2/9/23]

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY FEBRUARY 9***

Lawmakers Have Long Promised to Rein in High Drug Prices, Lower Health Costs, and Expand Access — President Biden and Democrats Are Getting the Job Done.

During President Biden’s State of the Union address, he celebrated the administration’s accomplishments and outlined further action to lower costs and improve care for people across the nation. During the speech, President Biden called on Congress to make lower health care premiums permanent, expand the monthly $35 insulin cap to everyone, close the Medicaid coverage gap for remaining states, and extend Medicare solvency. Prior to the president’s address, Protect Our Care released its agenda for 2023, calling on Congress to keep up the momentum to lower health care costs, improve care, and advance health equity.

Last year, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which lowered prescription drug and premium costs for millions of seniors and families. Two weeks ago, HHS announced that a record 16.3 million people signed up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. The administration has also worked to stop surprise billing, strengthen maternal care, and reduce racial, rural, and other disparities in our health care system. Now, President Biden and Democrats in Congress are working to build on these health care gains. Republicans, on the other hand, are doubling down on their war on health care by raising premiums, ending Medicare and Medicaid as we know it, reversing recent coverage gains, and hiking prescription drug costs for the American people. 

NEVADA
WHO:
Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-NV-03)
Barb Hartzell, Nevadan health care storyteller
Donna West, Nevadan health care storyteller

WHEN: February 9th at 11:00 AM PT

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

ARIZONA
WHO:
Saundra Neely-Cole, President of Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
David Lucier, President of Arizona Veterans and Military Leadership Alliance
Protect Our Care Arizona

WHEN: Thursday, February 9 at 2 PM MST

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

On Tuesday night, President Biden delivered his State of the Union address, celebrating the administration’s accomplishments and outlining further action to lower costs and improve health care for people across the nation. President Biden made clear he was committed to protecting vital programs — including Medicare and Social Security — from Republican attacks and building on recent health care gains to lower insulin costs, expand Medicaid, and more. As part of the event, key lawmakers welcomed guests who demonstrated the importance of affordable and accessible health care for everyone. Here are a few of their stories:

Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Lacy McGee
Lacy McGee is an insulin user from Atlanta, who has struggled to afford her medication despite having private insurance. She has been forced to ration her insulin or even rely on the black market to obtain the lifesaving drug. Lacy’s story demonstrates the importance of extending the Inflation Reduction Act’s monthly insulin cap to everyone. Watch Lacy’s story here.

Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and David Hovde
David Hovde from Appleton, Wisconsin, was diagnosed with diabetes. He takes two kinds of insulin, which was costing him hundreds of dollars monthly. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, his insulin costs are now capped at $35 per month. Watch David’s story here. 

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Marguerite Bailey Young
Marguerite Bailey Young is a 94-year-old type two diabetic and retired teacher from Fredericksburg, Virginia. The Inflation Reduction Act has allowed Marguerite, who is on a fixed income, to save around $2,000 a year on insulin. Watch Marguerite’s story here. 

Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Cindy Mundell
Cindy Mundell is a retired Cardiac ICU Nurse from Naperville, Illinois. She relies on Social Security and Medicare to stay healthy. Watch Cindy’s story here. 

Last night, President Biden delivered his State of the Union address to the nation. During his speech, President Biden made clear he is committed to protecting vital programs — including Medicare and Social Security — from Republican attacks. He also called on Congress to make lower health care premiums permanent, expand the $35 monthly insulin cap, close the Medicaid coverage gap for the remaining states, and extend Medicare solvency for over two decades. Coverage made clear that lowering health costs and improving remains a top priority for 2023. 

Read Protect Our Care’s 2023 agenda here. 

COVERAGE:

The Wall Street Journal: Biden Calls For Insulin Cap, Praises Medicare Drug Negotiation. President Biden called for expanding a $35 monthly cap on out-of-pocket costs for insulin and criticized Republicans for wanting to repeal parts of legislation that will let Medicare negotiate some drug prices. … “One in 10 Americans has diabetes. Every day, millions need insulin to control their diabetes so they can stay alive,” Mr. Biden said. “Big Pharma has been unfairly charging people hundreds of dollars – four to five hundred dollars a month – and making record profits. Not any more. Not any more.” He also praised one of this administration’s biggest accomplishments on drug pricing: Legislation empowering Medicare for the first time to negotiate with drug makers over some prices. [The Wall Street Journal, 2/7/23]

Politico: “The Time For Talking About The Health Care Problems That Occupy Voters’ Minds — Like Reducing Health Care Costs — Has Arrived.” . “President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday night made one thing clear as we inch closer to election season: The time for lingering on the messy details of the pandemic is over, and the time for talking about the health care problems that occupy voters’ minds — like reducing health care costs — has arrived… As expected, Biden called for a universal $35 insulin price cap for all Americans… Biden reiterated calls to fill the Medicaid coverage gap for the roughly 2 million people living in the 11 states that haven’t expanded Medicaid under Obamacare… The president pledged that neither Medicare nor Social Security would be cut and he would veto attempts to slash them. He also said he planned to extend the Medicare Trust Fund by at least two decades.” [Politico, 2/8/23]

USA Today: Biden Wants Insulin Cost Cap Of $35 A Month For All Americans. Biden on Tuesday mentioned how the person who discovered insulin didn’t patent so that it would be available to everyone. Canadian scientist Frederick Banting discovered insulin in 1921. Scientists treated the first diabetic patient in 1922 and sold the patent to the University of Toronto for 3 Canadian dollars. The university administered the patent and received royalty payments from drug companies that sold human insulin. [USA Today, 2/7/23]

The Washington Post: Biden’s Medicare Comments Sparked Fireworks, Even As He Used His Speech To Outline Areas Of Health-Care Cooperation. “The most acrimonious moment in last night’s State of the Union address came when President Biden said some Republican proposals would sunset Medicare and Social Security – and loud protests erupted inside the House chamber… It led to a perplexing moment that ended with Biden ad-libbing, ‘“I enjoy conversion,’” to suggest some Republicans had changed their position. Most of the chamber then stood up and clapped when Biden said,’ “So tonight, let’s all agree — and apparently we are — and stand up for seniors….We will not cut Social Security! We will not cut Medicare!’”” [The Washington Post, 2/8/23]

Healthcare Finance News: Biden Touted The Strides His Administration Has Made In Health Care, Such As Capping Out-Of-Pocket Insulin Costs At $35 For Medicare Beneficiaries Through Passage Of The Inflation Reduction Act . “Biden touted the strides his administration has made in health care, such as capping out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 for Medicare beneficiaries through passage of the Inflation Reduction Act… ‘This law also caps out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare at a maximum $2,000 per year when there are in fact many drugs, like expensive cancer drugs, that can cost up to $10,000, $12,000 and $14,000 a year,’ he said. ‘If drug prices rise faster than inflation, drug companies will have to pay Medicare back the difference. And we’re finally giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices. Bringing down prescription drug costs doesn’t just save seniors money. It will cut the federal deficit, saving taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars on the prescription drugs the government buys for Medicare. Why wouldn’t we want to do that?’” [Healthcare Finance News, 2/8/23]

Kaiser Health News: Health Policies Were A Prominent Theme In Biden’s State Of The Union Speech. “President Joe Biden on Tuesday delivered his State of the Union address to a politically divided Congress for the first time, calling for permanent fixes on policy priorities like unaffordable health costs… Biden also took victory laps, some of which focused on health care initiatives. He talked about the savings to people and to the federal government that would result from allowing Medicare to negotiate what it pays for prescription medicines… He dedicated an estimated four minutes to his efforts to hold down health care costs — namely prescription drug prices — and pointed a finger directly at Big Pharma.”.” [KHN, 2/8/23]

Watch Mike Lee Pledge to Destroy Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid Here.

Washington DC — Last night, President Biden delivered his State of the Union Address, where he highlighted Republican attacks on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Shortly after the speech, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) claimed that President Biden had “mischaracterized” Republican attempts to cut these vital programs. In reality, Mike Lee has been leading the pack when it comes to slashing benefits for seniors, famously saying “It will be my objective, to phase out Social Security, to pull it up by the roots and get rid of it…Medicare and Medicaid are of the same sort and need to be pulled out.” In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“Republicans are shameless when it comes to lying about Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to the American people. Lawmakers like Mike Lee cannot rewrite history. The GOP has repeatedly aimed to slash benefits for seniors in order to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. Just days ago, Congressional Republicans publicly stated they were still looking at Social Security and Medicare cuts as part of debt ceiling negotiations. Let’s be clear: the GOP plan to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security would be devastating to millions of people and is an attack against the most vulnerable Americans, including people of color, rural families, and low-income seniors. Fortunately, President Biden and Democrats in Congress are dedicated to not only protecting these vital programs, but expanding them to lower costs and improve care for our nation’s seniors.” 

Republicans have been saying for months that they want to cut Social Security and Medicare:

HEADLINE: Some GOP lawmakers aren’t quite ready to take Medicare and Social Security out of the debt limit battle — even after Kevin McCarthy said the matter is ‘off the table’ [Insider, 2/6/23] 

HEADLINE: Republicans’ plans to slash Social Security and Medicare are becoming clearer: ‘We have no choice but to make hard decisions’ [Insider, 1/25/23] 

HEADLINE: House GOP eyes Social Security, Medicare amid spending battle [Washington Post, 1/24/23] 

HEADLINE: Republicans Signal Cuts To Social Security, Medicare With New House Majority [Huffington Post, 1/9/23] 

HEADLINE: GOP floats Medicare changes while ducking details [Axios, 11/3/22] 

HEADLINE: Republicans, Eyeing Majority, Float Changes to Social Security and Medicare [New York Times, 11/2/22] 

HEADLINE: Republicans eye using debt limit hike to overhaul entitlement programs if entrusted with majority [Fox News, 10/29/22] 

HEADLINE: Entitlement, Spending Cap Plans Linked by GOP to Debt-Limit Deal [Bloomberg, 10/11/22] 

HEADLINE: Sen. Johnson suggests ending Medicare, Social Security as mandatory spending programs [Washington Post, 8/3/22] 

President Biden Is Delivering on His Promise to Lower Health Care Costs, Reduce Drug Prices, and Improve Care for Families Nationwide

Washington DC —Tonight, President Biden delivered his State of the Union address, celebrating the administration’s accomplishments and outlining further action to lower costs and improve health care for people across the nation. During the speech, President Biden called on Congress to make lower health care premiums permanent, expand the $35 monthly insulin cap to everyone, close the Medicaid coverage gap for the remaining 11 states, and extend Medicare solvency for 25 years.

Last year, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which lowered prescription drug and premium costs for millions of seniors and families. Two weeks ago, HHS announced that a record 16.3 million people signed up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. The administration has also worked to stop surprise billing, strengthen maternal care, and reduce racial, rural, and other disparities in our health care system. Now, President Biden and Democrats in Congress are working to build on these health care gains while also protecting them from Republican policies that threaten access to quality, affordable health coverage for millions. Read Protect Our Care’s full 2023 agenda here. 

Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement: 

“Over the past two years, President Biden has demonstrated what it means to be a health care president. Under President Biden’s leadership, Democrats in Congress have delivered for the American people by expanding affordable coverage, lowering prescription drug prices, and strengthening access to health care. These achievements have made a world of difference for our nation’s seniors, people of color, people with disabilities, rural communities, and countless others. Republicans, on the other hand, have pledged to make devastating cuts to Medicare Medicaid, and Social Security, and to repeal the ACA and the Inflation Reduction Act, which would rip away critical protections and raise costs for over 100 million Americans. It is imperative we stop the Republican war on health care and that we make access to affordable, quality health care a right for every American.”

This week we highlight accomplishments and expansions of highly successful services and programs dedicated to reducing disparities in the health care system as well as federal and state efforts to advance equity. Even with these achievements, new research on foster care, behavioral health services, maternal health, and  LGBTQ+ care underscores there is still a long way to go in tackling systemic inequities and advancing health equity.

Protect Our Care is dedicated to making high-quality, affordable and equitable health care a right, and not a privilege, for everyone in America. We advocate for policies that lower health care costs and strengthen coverage, which are critical to expanding access to quality health care and, ultimately, achieving better health outcomes, particularly for people of color, rural Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and more. Our strategies are driven by a broader commitment to tackling systemic inequities that persist due to racism and discrimination and the reality that multi-sector policies are needed to address basic conditions that affect health and related outcomes, particularly for marginalized communities.

INITIATIVES

Washington Post: FDA Eases Restrictions on Blood Donations for Gay and Bisexual Men. “Gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships will no longer be forced to abstain from sex to donate blood under federal guidelines announced Friday, ending a vestige of the earliest days of the AIDS crisis. The proposed relaxation of restrictions by the Food and Drug Administration follows years of pressure by blood banks, the American Medical Association and LGBT rights organizations to abandon rules some experts say are outdated, homophobic and ineffective at keeping the nation’s blood supply safe. The new approach eliminates rules that target men who have sex with men and instead focuses on sexual behaviors by people, regardless of gender, that pose a higher risk of contracting and transmitting HIV. The FDA is expected to adopt the proposal after a period of public comment. Other countries including Canada and the United Kingdom have made similar changes in recent years. For decades, gay men said they were made to feel like pariahs as they were barred from performing a widely lauded act of community service, sidelined from joining friends and family giving blood after national disasters.” [Washington Post, 1/26/23]

CNN: Expanding Services for 988 Hotline Hope to Reach Out to Marginalized Groups “Since the summer launch of 988, more than 300,000 calls, texts and chats have come in each month. SAMHSA data on the new lifeline show that in December 2022 versus December 2021, calls answered increased by 48%, chats answered increased by 263% and texts answered increased by 1,445%. The 988 lifeline also has been testing a pilot program specifically for the LGBTQ+ community, in partnership with the Trevor Project, in which calls, texts or chats from LGBTQ+ youth have the option of being connected with counselors specially trained in LGBTQ-inclusive crisis care services. The pilot program began around the end of September, and ‘there has been a lot of demand and a lot of utilization of that service,’ [Dr. John] Palmieri said. He added that LGBTQ+ youth are at a higher risk of suicide. Since its launch, the 988 lifeline also has increased the number of call centers taking Spanish calls from a total of three to seven. Spanish language options will increase for text and chat messaging as well, Palmieri said.” [CNN, 1/19/23]

Wisconsin Examiner: Newly Released State Health Equity Report Calls for Changes Which Extend Outside of Health System. “A new report calls for Wisconsin to foster a corps of community health workers across the state, governed by a new set of professional standards and paid by the state’s Medicaid program. That is the lead proposal offered by the Governor’s Health Equity Council, which issued its final report Monday. The report includes a total of 20 recommendations. The first six directly focus on the state’s health care system and institutions, starting with creating a certification standard for community health workers and allowing them to be reimbursed under the Wisconsin Medicaid program. The report’s other proposals directly tied to health care include improving health care for pregnant women who are incarcerated, as well as policies to more broadly and completely share health data and to review maternal deaths. In addition, there are proposals that address economic conditions, such as increasing the minimum wage and expanding home ownership. There are also proposals to make the health equity council a permanent body, and to create a council on transgender health and safety that would provide training, technical support and analysis and recommendations across government agencies. The report anticipates opposition from some ideological quarters, although it does not lay out a specific plan for implementing its proposals.” [Wisconsin Examiner, 1/31/23]

Bloomberg: CDC New Institutional Shakeup Includes Creating an Office of Health Equity. “US public health chief Rochelle Walensky continued reconfiguring her agency to fight crises after stinging criticism of its pandemic response, hiring new leadership and creating new offices to address health equity and surveillance. Walensky is… forming an Office of Health Equity that will report to her team, according to the person, who asked not to be named discussing details that aren’t public. The organizational shake-up was guided by a monthslong internal review that identified cultural and organizational shortcomings in the agency’s response to the pandemic. Walensky’s advisers determined that CDC needed to share scientific findings and data faster, improve communications, strengthen relationships with federal, state and local partners, and ensure that the public-health workforce responds quickly to emergencies. Walensky also consolidated work done by two different centers into a new National Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce.” [Bloomberg, 1/24/23]

CHALLENGES

The Daily Yonder: Over 100 Thousand Indigenous Americans Live in Mental Health Care Deserts. “More than 113,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) live in 492 counties that lack mental health providers, according to a new report from GoodRx Research. Over 90% of these areas are in rural parts of the U.S., where healthcare resources are already limited, the report stated. ‘In fact, there are fewer than one psychiatrist or psychologist for every 30,000 people living in these counties,’ said Amanda Nguyen, a health economist at GoodRx Research. Nguyen said mental health access is lacking in the South Central, Midwest, and Alaska regions of the U.S.: These regions have the highest number of mental health care deserts, including Texas (30 mental health desert counties), Kansas (13), Oklahoma (8), Nebraska (8), and Alaska (7) have some of the highest numbers of mental health deserts. In addition to Alaska (11,171), South Dakota (14,650) has one of the highest numbers of AI/AN residents living in mental health deserts. The report also found that poor broadband access limits access to telehealth services, which could help with mental health resources. She said that the study found that counties with a higher population of AI/AN residents had a lower percentage of households with any form of broadband. For example, the vast majority of counties (94%) with 50% or more AI/AN residents – like Apache County in Arizona – have broadband access below the national average. Although most Indian Health Service (IHS) clinics and hospitals provide services at no cost to tribe members and are located on reservations, 87% of those who identify as AI/AN live outside of tribal areas, according to U.S. Census data.” [The Daily Yonder, 1/24/23]

Kaiser Health News: Children in Foster Care Experiencing Consistent Failures in Health Care. “Georgia’s designated health insurer for foster care, Amerigroup Community Care, had denied [a] boy [who had vocally contemplated suicide] placement in a psychiatric residential treatment facility, said Audrey Brannen, coordinator of complex care for Georgia’s child welfare agency. He stayed in a hotel for more than a month before receiving a temporary emergency placement in a foster home, she said. The boy and the other children staying in the hotels lacked permanent placements, Brannen said, and many weren’t getting help for their complex mental and behavioral needs. The frustration over gaps in care had gotten so bad that Candice Broce, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Services, sent a scathing six-page letter to the state Medicaid agency in August — signaling an unusual interagency conflict. She argued that Amerigroup, a unit of Elevance Health, isn’t being held accountable for failures in care, and that its foster care contract should not be renewed. Such problems extend beyond Georgia, according to Sandy Santana, executive director of the national advocacy group Children’s Rights. While foster care grabs headlines mainly in cases of abuse or neglect — even deaths — the failures of states and insurers in providing adequate health care for these children are widespread and occur largely without public scrutiny. Nearly all children in foster care are eligible for Medicaid, the state-federal program for those with low incomes, but states decide on the delivery mechanism. Georgia is among at least 10 states that have turned to managed-care companies to deliver specialized services exclusively for foster kids and others under state supervision. At least three more — North Carolina, New Mexico, and Oklahoma — are taking similar steps. But regardless of the structure, getting timely access to care for many of these vulnerable kids is a problem, Santana said.” [Kaiser Health News, 1/25/23]

U.S. News: Vast Disparities in Autism Care Continue to For Families Across the U.S. “Autism services are harder to find in many of the places where Black, Hispanic and Native American families live, new research shows. It’s known that there are racial disparities in U.S. families’ receipt of autism services — ranging from diagnosis and behavioral therapy to school and community programs. The new study highlights one reason: Those services are simply more scarce in the communities where Black, Hispanic and Native American families live. It also points to specific geographic regions in the United States where disparities are most stark. That could help in targeting resources to the areas in greatest need, according to the researchers. There are various approaches to helping kids with autism, including therapies that focus on certain behaviors or speech and language skills, as well as special education offered at schools. The earlier a young child is diagnosed and the sooner families can get those services, the better, [Dennis] Wall said. However, studies have found that compared with their white counterparts, minority children with autism are less likely to receive such services.” [U.S. News, 1/30/23]

AP: Maternal Deaths and Disparities Increase in Mississippi. “Deaths from pregnancy complications have become more prevalent in Mississippi, and racial disparities in the health of those who give birth have widened in recent years, according to a report released Thursday by the state’s Department of Health. The Mississippi Maternal Mortality Report shows that the maternal mortality rate increased by 8.8% between 2013‐2016 and 2017‐2019, with the latter period being the most recent one analyzed by researchers. Black, non-Hispanic women had a rate four times higher than white, non-Hispanic women. Meanwhile, the rate increased by 25% for Black women while falling 14% among white women. Of the maternal deaths directly related to pregnancy, 87.5% were determined to be preventable. The grim figures arrive as the state is expecting more births each year as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court decision last summer overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which had established a nationwide constitutional protection for abortion. The court used a Mississippi case to overturn the case, a legal effort the state’s leaders have lauded.” [AP, 1/26/23]

The Tennessean: New Report Highlights Disparities for LGBTQ+ Individuals in Tennessee. “Tennessee has begun a new legislative session and the state’s LGBTQ residents are bracing for impact.The General Assembly’s hostility towards its LGBTQ constituents has resulted in one of the most unsupportive legal systems in the country for LGBTQ people. However, for a long time, there has been limited research connecting LGBTQ Tennesseans’ experiences to state policy. A groundbreaking new report from the Southern Equality Research and Policy Center at the Campaign for Southern Equality and Campus Pride… takes a first step toward changing that. Regarding health and wellness, the situation for LGBTQ Tennesseans is dire. Unlike many other states in the country, Tennessee does not have legislation protecting LGBTQ individuals from discrimination in healthcare or insurance coverage. To make matters worse, Tennessee lawmakers have passed laws allowing healthcare providers to refuse service to LGBTQ individuals and criminalizing people living with HIV. Alarmingly, 58% of respondents reported experiencing suicidal thoughts within the past year, and 16% of respondents said they attempted suicide within the past year.This is far higher than the number of suicides attempted nationally; less than .01% of Americans attempt suicide each year.” [The Tennessean, 1/31/23]