News

While Democrats Lower Drug Prices, Republicans Vow to Stop Medicare from Negotiating 

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Biden-Harris administration announced the new, lower prices for 10 of the highest-cost, most popular drugs taken by people on Medicare. These new prices are known as “maximum fair prices,” and are the highest prices drug companies are allowed to charge for these life-saving medications. Thanks to the historic action taken by Democrats in Congress and the Biden-Harris administration to pass the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, Medicare was given the power to negotiate lower drug prices with manufacturers for the first time in the program’s history.

This announcement follows a long line of actions the Biden-Harris administration has taken to reduce prescription drug and health care costs for the American people. The Inflation Reduction Act also lowered drug prices for millions of seniors by capping insulin costs at $35 per month, limiting outrageous price hikes, and making recommended vaccines, like the shingles shot, free for people on Medicare. And starting in 2025, total out-of-pocket drug costs will be capped at $2,000 per year for seniors. In 2023, 10 million seniors received a free vaccine, and HHS estimates that 19 million seniors will save $400 or more per year thanks to the out-of-pocket cap.

At the same time, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are fighting to roll back this progress and repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s historic measures to lower drug prices for seniors. Repealing these policies would cost seniors billions of dollars — only putting money back in the pockets of big drug companies.

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

“For too long, we’ve lived in a broken system that has allowed drug companies to charge whatever they want while hardworking Americans struggle to afford the medications they need to survive. This announcement is 40 years in the making. The Biden-Harris administration and Democrats in Congress stood up to the greed of big drug companies and won, and now prices will come down for millions of seniors. The Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program will give seniors long overdue relief while saving taxpayers billions of dollars: it’s a win-win for the American people. Meanwhile, after spending $100 million to try to stop the Inflation Reduction Act, drug companies are still working with their Republican allies to repeal the law and ban Medicare from negotiating lower prices. As the Biden-Harris administration delivers savings to seniors, the contrast with Republicans could not be more clear.”

Background

Today’s announcement includes the first set of drugs with prices negotiated by Medicare, and by February 2026, another 15 drugs will be selected for negotiation. The new negotiated prices take effect in January 2026. The first round of drugs includes:

• Eliquis which is sold by Bristol Myers Squibb to treat blood clots
• Enbrel which is sold by Amgen to treat arthritis and psoriasis
• Entresto which is sold by Novartis to treat heart failure
• Farxiga which is sold by AstraZeneca to treat diabetes
• Fiasp/NovoLog which is sold by Novo Nordisk to treat diabetes
• Imbruvica which is sold by AbbVie to treat leukemia and lymphoma
• Januvia which is sold by Merck to treat diabetes
• Jardiance which is sold by Boehringer Ingelheim to treat diabetes
• Stelara which is sold by Johnson & Johnson to treat psoriasis and Crohn’s disease
• Xarelto which is sold by Johnson & Johnson to treat blood clots

Washington, DC – Protect Our Care is releasing updated profiles of the first ten drugs whose prices will be lowered as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act. Following months of negotiations with drug manufacturers, the Biden-Harris administration is scheduled to announce the final prices this week. The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program will lower costs for some of the highest-cost prescription drugs on the market used to treat conditions like cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. 

The profiles show that millions of people rely on these drugs to stay alive, and while drug companies continue to rake in sky-high profits and reward shareholders and executives, these drugs are costing patients and taxpayers billions. While the Biden-Harris administration is working tirelessly to implement the Inflation Reduction Act, drugmakers and their Republican allies are working to strip Medicare’s power to negotiate lower drug prices and reverse all of the drug savings from the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Prescription drugs don’t work if people cannot afford to take them,” said Leslie Dach, chair of Protect Our Care. “For far too long, Americans have been forced to skip doses and choose between their health and putting food on the table. The Biden-Harris administration stood up to big drug companies and won a decades-long battle to lower the cost of prescription drugs for millions of Americans. While drug companies are lobbying to ban Medicare from negotiating, they are raking in billions in profits and rewarding their CEOs and shareholders instead of helping patients. It’s shameful that drug companies and their Republican allies want to roll back all of the progress made to help people afford the medications they need to survive.”

Read the profiles here:

• Eliquis
• Enbrel
• Entresto
• Farxiga
• Fiasp/Novolog
• Imbruvica
• Januvia
• Jardiance
• Stelara
• Xarelto 

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR AUGUST 12 – AUGUST 19***

Protect Our Care Hosts 10+ Events With Elected Officials and Advocates 

This week, Protect Our Care will host events in 10 states to mark the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act and celebrate the announcement of the final prices Medicare negotiated for the first ten drugs. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration and Democrats in Congress, Americans are saving more than ever on health costs: the cost of insulin is capped at $35 dollars, seniors are protected from drug company price hikes, seniors’ prescription drug costs will be capped at $2,000 dollars per year starting next year, and Medicare has the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. 

At the same time, Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans are working to put health benefits on the chopping block, ripping away care and raising prices while giving tax breaks to drug and insurance companies. If they get their way, they’ll slash critical funding for Medicare and Medicaid, repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, erode access to reproductive health care, and put drug and insurance companies back in control, letting them charge outrageous prices for prescriptions. The contrast between the Biden-Harris administration and Trump’s Republican Party couldn’t be clearer.

Protect Our Care Inflation Reduction Act Anniversary Events

MONDAY, AUGUST 12

MINNESOTA

WHO:
Attorney General Keith Ellison
Dr. Kelly Morrison, OBGYN and former legislator
Nicole Smith-Holt, Insulin for All advocate
Nancy Florence, RN, home health care nurse

WHERE: View recording of call here.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13

ARIZONA

WHO:
Dr. Jeffrey Reynoso, HHS Regional Director
Doug Hart, former President of Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
Les Braswell, Honest Arizona

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHEN: Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at 9 AM MT // 12 PM ET

WHERE: Register here (Registration required)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14

OHIO

WHO:
State Representative Michele Grim (OH-43)
Woodmere Mayor Ben Holbert
John Kennedy, Insulin for All
Daniel van Hoogstraten, Protect Our Care Ohio

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHEN: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 1 PM ET

WHERE: Register here (Registration required)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

WISCONSIN

WHO:
U.S Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI-04)
Health care advocates

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHEN: Thursday, August 15, 2024, at 10:30 AM CT // 11:30 AM ET

WHERE: Register here (Registration required)

VIRGINIA

WHO:
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)
New Virginia Majority
Katie Baker, Protect Our Care Virginia
Health care advocates

WHAT: Press Conference

WHEN: Thursday, August 15, 2024, at 2PM ET

WHERE: Location TBA

NEVADA

WHO:
U.S. Representative Susie Lee (D-NV-03)
Donna West, Health Care Advocate
For Our Future
Protect Our Care Nevada

WHAT: Press Conference

WHEN: Thursday, August 15, 2024, at 2 PM PT // 5 PM ET

WHERE: Sun City Summerlin Community Center/Meeting Hall, 10360 Sun City Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89134

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16

NORTH CAROLINA

WHO:
HHS Regional Director Antrell Tyson
State Rep. Maria Cervania
Vanessa Watson, Protect Our Care North Carolina

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHEN: Friday, August 16, 2024 at 10:30 AM ET

WHERE: Registration Link to Come

NEW YORK

WHO:
Mondaire Jones, former U.S. Representative (D-NY-17)
Health care advocates

WHAT: Press Conference

WHEN: Friday, August 16, 2024 at 12 PM ET

WHERE: Location TBA

CALIFORNIA

WHO:
Florice Hoffman, Health care advocate
Izeah Chairez, Health care advocate

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHEN: Friday, August 16, 2024 at 10 AM PT // 1 PM ET

WHERE: Register here (Registration required)

MONDAY, AUGUST 19

PENNSYLVANIA

WHO:
U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA-08)
Michael Berman, Protect Our Care Pennsylvania
Health care advocates

WHAT: Press Conference

WHEN: Monday, August 19, 2024 at 10:30 AM ET

WHERE: Location TBA

President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats in Congress have taken historic action to lower health care costs and save Americans thousands of dollars a year. By passing the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats stood up to big drug companies and lowered the cost of prescription drugs and insulin. Democrats have also lowered premium costs for people who buy their own coverage and helped more Americans get affordable coverage through Medicaid. Bringing down the cost of health care gives families more breathing room and helps keep food on the table and a roof over heads for millions of people. Here’s the top five ways that the Biden-Harris administration and Democrats in Congress have lowered Americans’ health care costs: 

1. Seniors are saving more on drugs than ever before thanks to Medicare drug price negotiation and other cost saving measures. The Inflation Reduction Act created several measures to bring down the cost of prescription drug prices for seniors. The historic law gave Medicare the ability to negotiate drug prices for seniors. In 2023, Medicare announced the first 10 drugs that were selected for negotiation, which are taken by nearly 9 million seniors and account for 20 percent of Medicare’s annual Part D spending. The Inflation Reduction Act also capped out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors at $2,000 per year starting in 2025. When this provision goes into effect, it is estimated that nearly 19 million Americans will save an average of $400 each year. Additionally, 400,000 low-income seniors will receive more help affording prescription drugs through the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy Program. President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats in Congress also stopped big drug companies from price gouging. If pharmaceutical manufacturers are found raising prices faster than the rate of inflation, they are required to pay back Medicare the difference. In January 2024, 48 drugs were required to pay rebates due to this rule.However, if Trump is re-elected in November, these cost savings will be repealed. He wants to put drug companies back in charge, raising prices on prescription drugs, and taking away Medicare’s power to negotiate lower drug prices. During Trump’s first presidency, drug prices rose faster than the rate of inflation every year he was in office. Trump returning to office would be detrimental for American seniors who rely on lowered prices on medications to afford to pay rent and put food on the table.
2. Insulin is capped at $35 per month. President Biden and Democrats took on big drug companies and won. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, insulin copays for people on Medicare are capped at $35 per prescription each month, saving seniors hundreds of dollars on their health care costs. In 2020, there were more than 3.2 million insulin users on Medicare. Democrats efforts on lowering insulin costs for Medicare recipients has led to reduced prices on the market as well. Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly now cap their insulin prices for everyone at $35 a month, making up 90 percent of the insulin on the market.Trump has continuously attempted to take credit for lower insulin prices, but in reality insulin costs soared during his presidency, with insulin retailing for $300 a vial under Trump. A report found that as many as one in four of the 7.5 million Americans dependent on insulin were skipping or skimping on doses due to rising costs. Now, Trump and Republicans in Congress want to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, which would eliminate the $35 insulin cap for seniors on Medicare and hike the cost of prescription drugs for seniors nationwide.
3. Health care premiums are lower for millions of families.Thanks to President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats in Congress, the Inflation Reduction Act extended premium tax credits to make health care more affordable for millions of Americans. Over 14 million Americans are saving an average of $527 on monthly health insurance premiums and 80 percent of enrollees are able to find a health plan through the Marketplace for $10 or less per month. Premium tax credits are set to expire at the end of 2025. Democrats are trying to ensure Americans can continue saving by making these tax credits permanent.Republicans want to end tax credits that help make health affordable for lower- and middle-income Americans, but they support giving more tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations, including drug and insurance companies. Ending these tax credits would mean a typical 60-year-old couple making $80,000 per year would see their premiums triple to over $24,000 and a family of four making $125,000 would see an average increase of $7,676.
4. Free vaccinations are now available for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP beneficiaries. Thanks to President Biden and Democrats in Congress, 50.5 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries can now get their shingles vaccinations free of charge. In 2020, nearly 4 million Medicare beneficiaries received the two-part shingles vaccination. With a single shot of Shingrix costing $212, seniors on Medicare Part D are saving over $400 on average compared to vaccinations in 2023. Additionally, over 94 million Medicaid recipients now benefit from better vaccination coverage thanks to The Inflation Reduction Act. Medicaid and CHIP state programs are now required to cover vaccines recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without out-of-pocket costs. More accessible vaccinations will particularly help low-income families who rely on Medicaid, many of whom are people of color and people with disabilities.Republicans’ plan to overturn the Inflation Reduction Act would put the cost of shingles vaccinations back on seniors and would create a much larger problem for those on Medicaid.  With over 33 percent of Americans developing shingles at some point in their life, accessibility to vaccinations is paramount as people continue to age. While complications or death from shingles is not common, seniors with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable, with 30 percent of shingles hospitalizations occurring within this population. Republicans’ plan to gut Medicaid means millions of Americans would lose their health coverage, including seniors with long-term care needs, children in low-income families, people with disabilities and people suffering from mental illnesses.
5. American families are protected from surprise medical bills and have access to affordable coverage. Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration took additional actions to ensure more Americans can afford their health care. From implementing rules to protect Americans from surprise medical bills to fixing the “family glitch”, more Americans are saving money while getting the care they need. Since January 1, 2022, Americans have been protected from surprise medical bills from emergency room visits, non-emergency out-of-network visits at in-network facilities, and air ambulance services for out-of-network providers. These new rules are already preventing 1 million surprise medical bills per month. Previous to these rules going into effect, surprise bills cost people an average of $750 to $2,600.
   President Biden and Vice President Harris also fixed “family glitch,” allows more lower-income families to qualify for subsidized health coverage under the ACA, even if a family member qualifies for affordable, employee-only insurance. Prior to the Biden-Harris administration’s fix, the “family glitch” left 5 million low-income Americans ineligible for tax credits to reduce the cost of their insurance.Additionally, legislation signed by President Biden guarantees that kids can stay on Medicaid and CHIP for at least a full year before their parents must apply to renew their coverage. Health care coverage throughout childhood is an important indicator of success in school and in adulthood. Medicaid eligibility during childhood lowers the high school dropout rate, raises college enrollment, and increases four-year college attainment. For each additional year of Medicaid eligibility as a child, adults by age 28 had higher earnings and made $533 additional cumulative tax payments due to their higher incomes. President Biden and Vice President Harris are also doing everything in their power to stop GOP efforts to throw Americans off of Medicaid.Trump and Republicans have failed the American people time and time again. They are more worried about putting profits over people. During his 4 years in office, Trump tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act, throw families off of Medicaid, and raise costs on the American people.  If Trump is reelected, these trends will only continue. Trump is fully committed to slashing Medicaid’s budget by over 50 percent. Millions would lose coverage with one in four Americans counting on Medicaid for access to health care. The program serves people from all backgrounds, including children, mothers, people of color, working families, people with disabilities, rural Americans, and seniors – all of whom would be at risk if Trump comes to power.

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 12 AT 1 PM CT // 2 PM ET***

As Second Anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act Nears, Speakers will Highlight Walz’s Leadership Amidst MAGA Republicans’ Threats to Take Away Health Care from Thousands of Minnesotans

MINNEAPOLIS – On Monday, August 12 at 1 PM CT // 2 PM ET, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Nicole Smith-Holt, Dr. Kelly Morrison and advocate Nancy Florence will join Protect Our Care Minnesota to highlight how Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) has championed better health care and lower costs for Minnesotans. Gov. Tim Walz is a health care champion with a demonstrated record of fighting to ensure that his constituents have access to affordable, high-quality health care. While in Congress he helped pass the Affordable Care Act, and he has since worked to safeguard and build on its success. Walz has fought to protect Medicaid and Medicare, lower prescription drug costs, and protect access to reproductive health care.

As the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act nears, speakers will share that because of the Biden-Harris administration and Democrats, more Americans than ever before have health insurance, the cost of insulin is capped at $35 dollars, seniors are protected from drug company price hikes, and seniors’ prescription drug costs will be capped at $2,000 dollars annually starting next year. For the first time in history, Medicare is negotiating prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies to lower costs for seniors. These provisions add up to big savings for Minnesotans, giving families more breathing room to get by and keeping people healthy.

At the same time, Donald Trump and his vice presidential pick Senator JD Vance support extreme policies that threaten to raise costs, throw people off their coverage, and decimate the historic accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration. If MAGA Republicans get their way, they’ll slash critical funding for Medicare and Medicaid, repeal the Inflation Reduction Act and the Affordable Care Act, erode access to reproductive health care, and put drug and insurance companies back in control, letting them charge outrageous prices for prescriptions Minnesotans need to stay healthy.

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
Attorney General Keith Ellison
Dr. Kelly Morrison, OBGYN and former legislator
Nicole Smith-Holt, Insulin for All advocate
Nancy Florence, RN, home health care nurse 

WHAT: Press Conference

WHEN: Monday, August 12, 2024 at 1 PM CT // 2 PM ET

WHERE: Zoom Webinar (Registration Required)

With Donald Trump as the official GOP presidential nominee, health care is once again on the chopping block. Donald Trump has renewed calls to “terminate” the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  MAGA allies at the Heritage Foundation released Project 2025, a dangerous policy roadmap designed to give more tax breaks to big corporations and the wealthiest Americans by decimating the middle class and stripping away our health care. The GOP plan for health care is clear: repeal the Inflation Reduction Act and ACA, slash Medicaid and Medicare funding, repeal protections for pre-existing conditions, raise prescription drug and premium costs, and strip away health care from millions of Americans all while giving tax breaks to billionaires, CEOs, and corporations. If Trump and MAGA Republicans get their way, it would be disastrous for tens of millions across the nation. Here is a quick look at the health care policies proposed in Project 2025:

Hike Health Care Costs and Rip Away Protections For Pre-Existing Conditions

Project 2025 calls for repealing the Inflation Reduction Act. This means it would end enhanced premium tax credits that lower insurance costs for Americans purchasing coverage on their own through the ACA. Getting rid of these premium tax credits would make health care more expensive, threatening coverage and well being for millions of Americans. 

In addition, a core piece of the Project 2025 plan would codify rules put forth by the Trump administration that expanded junk health insurance plans known as association health plans. These plans charge people who have pre-existing conditions more and deny coverage for essential services like prescription drugs and maternity care, leaving people with unexpected medical bills. 

If Project 2025’s proposals are enacted:

• GONE: Lower health care premiums for the over 20 million who buy their own coverage through the Marketplace. Ending the tax credits would mean a typical 60-year-old couple making $80,000 per year would see their premiums triple to over $24,000 per year and premiums for a family of four making $125,000 would increase by $7,676.
• GONE: Protections against catastrophic surprise hospital bills through total repeal of the No Surprises Act. Nearly 9 million people avoided surprise bills in 2022 alone. 
• GONE: The Medicaid Drug Rebate Program which gives low income Americans lower costs and allows states to expand drug coverage while maintaining savings. 

Increase Prescription Drug Costs

Project 2025’s plan to fully repeal the Inflation Reduction Act would eliminate the lifesaving insulin cost cap and Medicare’s power to negotiate lower drug prices. As a result, health care costs will skyrocket for families while drug and insurance companies and their CEOs are allowed to charge Americans whatever they want and get billions in tax breaks. 

If Project 2025’s proposals are enacted:

• GONE: $35 cap on monthly insulin costs for people with Medicare 
• GONE: Medicare’s power to negotiate lower prices for the most popular and expensive prescription drugs. Nearly 9 million people take the first ten drugs that were selected for Medicare negotiation, which account for 20 percent of Medicare Part D yearly spending. 
• GONE: Prescription drug savings for people on Medicare, including a new $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap and protections from drug company price hikes through inflation rebates. Nearly 19 million American seniors are expected to save an average of $400 per year.
• GONE: Free vaccines for 52 million people on Medicare, including for shingles and pneumonia. 
• GONE: Prescription drug savings for 4 million low-income seniors through the Medicare Part D Extra Help program.

Changing and Cutting Medicare

Project 2025 proposes stripping Medicare coverage from seniors, increasing prescription drug prices, increasing fraud throughout the system, and forcing seniors to pay more for their health care. This plan puts essential coverage for our nation’s seniors in jeopardy.

If Project 2025’s proposals are enacted:

• GONE: The Medicare Shared Savings Program which saves CMS over $2.5 billion annually and impacts nearly 11 million people with Medicare.
• GONE: Rural hospitals as Medicare Advantage plans continue to systemically underpay rural providers and deny coverage to rural Americans.
• GONE: Medicare’s inflation rebate which has lowered costs for 203 drugs, 64 of which just this past quarter were subject to the rebate, used by around hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries annually since the program began.
• GONE: The Medicare plans for 33 million seniors who would be forced over into a Medicare Advantage plan.

Slashing Medicaid

Project 2025 repeatedly refers to Medicaid and its expansion under the ACA to low-income adults as “failing” and too expensive to maintain. Project 2025 proposes overhauling Medicaid expansion and imposing onerous work requirements, time limits, and lifetime caps, eliminating mandatory benefits, and funneling Medicaid funding toward vouchers for private insurance, whose plans will be far less affordable and provide fewer benefits. Their plan for Medicaid is simple: throw people off of their coverage and raise health care costs across the board. 

If Project 2025’s proposals are enacted:

• GONE: Coverage for 21 million people because of the GOP’s onerous work reporting requirements. 
• GONE: Protections and health care for up to half of the 38 million children currently covered through Medicaid and CHIP.
• GONE: Essential federal funding for states like Mississippi, whose population makes less than the federal average income, to support their Medicaid programs so that working-class Americans can continue to receive quality and affordable health care.
• GONE: Federal funding for Medicaid expansion, putting coverage for about 24 million Americans at risk. 
• GONE: Billions in state funding for Medicaid, as Republicans plan to eliminate provider taxes to cut taxes for the rich at the expense of Americans’ health care.

Restricting Reproductive Rights

Project 2025 calls for a national abortion ban and a reverse of the FDA’s approval of Mifepristone; the safe, effective, and most common medication prescribed for an abortion regimen. Project 2025 would also limit access to contraception and IVF for millions of Americans.

If Project 2025’s proposals are enacted:

• GONE: Access to abortion care if a state wants to maintain federal funding for its Medicaid programs.
• GONE: The ACA’s requirements that employers cover contraceptives, potentially increasing a woman’s out-of-pocket costs for contraception by more than $584 annually.
• GONE: The ability to seek a life-saving abortion at a Medicare-funded hospital as doctors could face up to 5 years in prison.
• GONE: All funding to Planned Parenthood which in just 2023 had over 2 million patients and performed nearly 10 million services including cancer screenings, STI tests, etc.
• GONE: No-cost emergency contraception currently available to 47.8 million Americans.