News

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024
AT 3:30 P.M.***

President Biden and Congressional Democrats are Building on the ACA by Lowering Costs and Expanding Health Care for North Carolinians

Raleigh, North Carolina – On Monday, March 18 at 3:30 p.m., U.S. Representative Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), State Senator Rachel Hunt, and NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley will join Protect Our Care North Carolina to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and highlight how the law has protected people with pre-existing conditions, lowered costs for people who buy the own coverage, and increased access to quality, affordable health care for North Carolinians since it’s passage. President Biden and congressional Democrats are committed to building on and protecting the historic successes of the ACA by making lower Marketplace premiums permanent to keep plans affordable for the over 1 million North Carolinians enrolled, lowering prescription drug prices, cracking down on junk plans, and expanding Medicaid. A record breaking 21 million Americans enrolled in health coverage through ACA marketplaces for 2024, an increase of approximately 8 million since President Biden took office.

North Carolinians are celebrating expanded Medicaid in the state. It has been a long fight for Governor Cooper and Democrats in the state. Finally, over 600,000 North Carolinians are eligible for Medicaid. With 1,000 people enrolling per day, Medicaid expansion is a success. 

Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Republicans are threatening to repeal the ACA, despite record-setting enrollment numbers and the law’s overwhelming popularity. Repealing the ACA means losing protections for the 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, dramatically increasing premium costs, ending coverage for young people on their parents’ health plan until age 26, and ripping away access to preventive services without cost-sharing. It will also reverse the progress made to eliminate health equity disparities. 

Speakers will contrast Republican efforts to cut Medicaid and rip away health care with the Biden administration’s record of  ensuring health care remains accessible and affordable for North Carolinians and Americans across the country.

WHO: U.S. Representative Deborah Ross (D-NC-02)
State Senator Rachel Hunt
Secretary Kody Kinsley
Protect Our Care North Carolina

WHAT: Press Conference

WHEN: Monday, March 18, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Watch the livestream on POC NC Facebook page

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Watch the Panel Discussions Here.

Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Protect Our Care was joined by Former Solicitor General of the United States Don Verrilli, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and leading legal, economic, and health experts for an in-depth discussion of three key legal battles that threaten Americans’ health care. Ultra-conservative groups and big drug companies are suing to block Americans’ access to quality, affordable health care. Ongoing litigation threatens to repeal the Affordable Care Act requirement that insurers cover preventive services without cost sharing, to block Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices, and to throw our drug approval system into chaos by overturning the FDA’s approvals of mifepristone.

“First, don’t underestimate the determination and creativity of your adversaries, and don’t underestimate the attractiveness of the arguments and second, vigorous public engagement is absolutely vital,” said Former Solicitor General Don Verrilli. “These lessons are even more important now because arguments of the challenges that we’re going to be talking about today are going to appeal to some of the justices. It’s going to be vitally important to really push to take those arguments seriously. Figure out the most powerful legal responses and also engage in the same sort of effort to help the public understand just how misconceived the other side’s approach to the statute and how it works and just how horrible the consequences will be for millions of Americans if they succeed in their endeavors.”

“Americans have long paid the highest prices in the world for prescription medications and a lot of it has to do with the sweetheart deal that was written into a 2003 law,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). “When something’s part of our law, that means Congress can change it – no matter what the pharmaceutical companies say. It’s not just about those numbers, it’s about the people. That’s why it’s so unacceptable and why we pushed so hard in the Inflation Reduction Act to get drug prices negotiated.”

“Under the leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats in Congress, our country has made enormous progress in lowering health care and prescription drug costs, enrolling millions more Americans in affordable insurance coverage, and ensuring that coverage includes the lifesaving services people need,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “But much of this progress is at risk because when opponents of affordable health care can’t get their way in Congress, they take their policy disputes to the courts to roll back progress. It’s important that Americans, their representatives in Congress, and advocates for affordable health care understand what is at stake for access to quality, affordable health care as ultra-conservative interest groups and corporations seek to roll back progress in the courts.”

Threats to Preventive Health Care (Braidwood v. Becerra)

“If you are low income, a dollar to five dollars of cost-sharing may mean you won’t get screened at all because it often is the amount of money you need to get to work or for your kids to have lunch,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association. “When the ACA went into effect, there was a dramatic increase in people utilizing preventive health services. We also know that should this go away there’s a lot of evidence – both by experience and by survey – that the insurance companies and employers who are doing employer-based coverage will reimpose cost sharing.”

Read our fact sheet on Braidwood v. Becerra here. 

Threats to Lower Drug Costs (Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Cases)

“We’re not talking about an antibiotic that they’re going to take for a week, we’re talking about life-saving drugs that are going to keep them alive for several decades and when my patients don’t take their medications, their health declines,” said Dr. Christine Petrin, Board Chair of Doctors for America. “I have had difficulty convincing my patients to start taking these medications because of the cost. It’s really frustrating to go to medical school, study pharmacology and physiology, and read all these journal articles about how great these drugs are, and then not actually be able to use them because they’re not accessible to my patients. It’s like trying to practice medicine with my hands tied behind my back.”

Read our fact sheet on the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation cases here.

Threats to Reproductive Health Care and the Drug Approval System (Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA)

“One of the reasons why Americans across the country should be concerned about the potential outcome of this case is the overturning of an FDA decision and the effects on the approval process,” said William Schultz, Partner at Zuckerman Spaeder, and former General Counsel for the Department of Health and Human Services. “This can really diminish the confidence that patients, doctors, and health professionals have in drugs approved by the FDA. The inevitable result is it’s going to back up the process. They will require more studies. They will hesitate to approve improvements to drug labels. It will be slower in making these decisions, and the consequences of that are going to be patient lives – you’re talking about life-saving drugs.”

Read our fact sheet on Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA here.

Washington, D.C. — Today, President Biden released a proposed budget that builds on the progress of his administration to lower health care costs and improve care for people across the nation. In this budget, President Biden aims to lower prescription drug prices, extend affordable health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid, crack down on junk plans and surprise medical expenses, and protect health care for seniors and families for years to come.

Republicans, on the other hand, are doubling down on their efforts to raise the costs of health care, deny coverage to millions of people, and slash funding for critical programs. The GOP 2025 budget resolution includes more than $2 trillion in cuts to health care, largely through drastic cuts to Medicaid and watering down Medicare drug price negotiations.

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. In the face of so many attacks on health care from Republican lawmakers, President Biden is doubling down on his efforts to lower drug prices, keep premium costs low, expand Medicaid, and put the health and well-being of families first. By releasing this bold plan to build on the administration’s health care victories, President Biden is addressing the top concern from voters of all parties, and making it clear that he will not let Republicans repeal coverage and hike costs.”

Ads Recognize Health Care Champions in Congress and Urge Them to Continue to Fight for Lower Drug Costs

Campaign Will Launch in 9 Districts Around the Country and Include Broadcast, Cable, Streaming, and Digital Platforms

Watch the Ads Here. 

Washington, D.C. — Today, Protect Our Care is launching a $5 million+ advertising program to promote the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act’s provisions to lower drug costs, recognize health care champions, and urge them to continue the fight to lower health care costs. Polling shows that health care consistently ranks as a top economic concern for Americans. 

The program will focus in the following districts: Yadira Caraveo (CO-08), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Susan Wild (PA-07), Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Susie Lee (NV-03), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), and Gabe Vasquez (NM-02). Each of these members have championed the Inflation Reduction Act’s measures to cap the price of insulin at $35/month and give Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices. Congress is now considering a plan to lower costs even more by expanding those reforms to the broader health insurance market, not just seniors. The ads urge the members to continue to lead the fight for lower drug costs by passing H.R. 4895, the Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act. 

“The best way to make sure Americans know about how their members of Congress lowered health care and prescription drug costs is to reach people where they are,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “We are telling the American people how the Inflation Reduction Act is bringing down costs for working families and giving people economic relief and a little more breathing room. We urge these members of Congress to continue to lead the fight for reforms like the Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act so more families can afford their medications.”

The multi-channel media campaign will begin on Monday, March 11, and continue over the next few months. The seven-figure ad campaign will reach people through broadcast, cable and satellite television, OTT/streaming, YouTube, Hulu, and more. The program will also include on-the-ground events and organizing to make sure people in these communities know about these reforms. 

Links to each of the ads can be found below:
Yadira Caraveo (CO-08)
Hillary Scholten (MI-03)
Susan Wild (PA-07)
Matt Cartwright (PA-08)
Susie Lee (NV-03)
Steven Horsford (NV-04)
Pat Ryan (NY-18)
Frank Pallone (NJ-06)
Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)

Sample Ad Script for CO-08:

Doreen: I’ve had so many patients over the years tell me that they can’t afford their drugs – they’re skipping days, cutting pills in half…It’s just not safe. Thankfully, Congress passed a plan to bring down drug prices.

Narrator: Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo voted to give Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices, so seniors pay less.

Doreen: This will help so many of my patients afford the medicines they need.

Narrator: Tell Congresswoman Caraveo to keep fighting for lower health care costs.

Watch the Event Here. 

Washington, D.C. — Today, Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06) and Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) joined Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and Protect Our Care for a virtual event reacting to President Biden’s historic State of the Union address. The President celebrated the administration’s health accomplishments, including taking on Big Pharma and lowering drug costs, and he outlined further action to lower costs and improve care for people across the nation. Democrats have delivered on health care promises, expanding affordable coverage, driving down prescription drug costs, strengthening Medicaid for moms and kids, and reducing inequities in care. This year, a record 21.3 million people signed up for coverage under the ACA marketplaces, seniors are saving on insulin and vaccine costs, and Medicare is negotiating lower prices for some of the costliest drugs on the market. 

At the same time, Republicans continue fighting to reverse all of the progress made by Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration. Trump is escalating his threats to repeal the ACA while Republican lawmakers and their allies are working overtime to dismantle reproductive care, hike premiums, slash Medicare and Medicaid, reverse recent coverage gains, and raise prescription drug costs for the American people.

Last night, President Biden spoke to the incredible progress we’ve made expanding access to affordable health care and lowering the cost of prescription drugs,” said Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06). “His vision stands in stark contrast to the ominous health care agenda being pursued by former President Trump and Republicans in Congress who want to repeal health care, restrict reproductive rights, and prioritize Big Pharma’s profits over the American people. Democrats will continue to stand up against Republican attacks on health care while we work with President Biden to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable and accessible for all Americans.”

“As we heard last night, there’s much to celebrate regarding our progress and improving access to affordable health care,” said Bobby Scott (D-VA-03). “The ACA remains strong, doing what it was intended to do by protecting those with pre-existing conditions and making coverage more accessible and affordable. But as the President made clear, we have work to do. We want to do more to lower health care costs for Americans and I hope our colleagues across the aisle will finally join us in our fight to lower health care costs, rather than work against us to roll back the progress that we’ve already made. The best is yet to come.”

“President Biden was clear last night: We should strive for an America where people don’t have to choose between putting food on the table or paying for their medical care and the prescription drugs they need. And we’ve seen real progress already,” said Senator Peter Welch (D-VT). “The prescription drug price negotiation we’ve been working on for years is finally the law of the land–thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. Over 3,000 Medicare enrollees in Vermont who need insulin are saving hundreds of dollars under the IRA, and 19,000 Vermonters take one of the drugs selected in the first cycle of negotiations. The IRA’s drug pricing fight will finally put people over profits, and make a big difference in the lives of so many Americans.” 

“Last night, President Biden released a bold plan to build on Democrats’ health care victories,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “President Biden is sending the message that health care remains a top priority heading into the November election. Poll after poll shows addressing health care costs are a top issue for voters of all parties. We commend leaders like Representatives Pallone and Scott along with Senator Welch for leading the charge to deliver meaningful relief to millions of seniors and families, and for continuing to fight so everyone can afford the health care they need.”

President Biden is Driving Down Health Care Costs as GOP Threats Loom

Washington, D.C. — 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 his speech, President Biden called on Congress to expand the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug savings for people with all types of insurance, permanently extend lower premiums for people who buy health insurance, and close the Medicaid coverage gap, among other priorities.

President Biden and Democrats in Congress are improving health care and making sure people can get the care they need by lowering prescription drug and premium costs for millions of seniors and families. This year, a record-breaking 21.3 million people signed up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act marketplaces – the most in history. The administration has also worked to stop surprise billing, strengthen maternal care, and reduce racial, rural, and other disparities in our health care system. 

At the same time, Republicans continue fighting to reverse all of the progress made by Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration. Trump is escalating his threats to repeal the ACA while Republican lawmakers and their allies are working overtime to dismantle reproductive care, hike premiums, slash Medicare and Medicaid, reverse recent coverage gains, and raise prescription drug costs for the American people.

Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement: 

“Health care continues to be a top-of-mind issue for the American people, and the Biden administration has fought tooth and nail to lower costs and improve care for seniors and hardworking families. Tonight, President Biden told the American people that driving down health care costs even further and expanding coverage for more Americans continues to be a top priority. By building on the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, the president’s agenda would make a world of difference for our nation’s seniors, people of color, people with disabilities, rural communities, and countless others.

“On the other hand, Republicans have continued their unrelenting attack on health care. They have promised to repeal the ACA and the Inflation Reduction Act, slash Medicare and Medicaid, and hike drug costs for seniors, ripping away critical protections, coverage, and savings for millions. The contrast between the GOP and this administration could not be clearer.”

This evening, President Biden is expected to zero in on his plans to lower health care costs during his final state of the union address ahead of the election. This follows the agenda released yesterday by the Biden-Harris administration to build on the work of the Inflation Reduction Act and lower health care costs for even more Americans. Specifically, President Biden outlined a list of priorities to lower prescription drug prices, extend affordable health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid, crack down on junk plans and surprise medical expenses, and protect health care for seniors and families for years to come. 

Meanwhile, the Republicans are dead set on raising the costs of health care, denying coverage to millions of people, and slashing funding for critical programs. Learn more about the MAGA-Republican plan for health care here.

HEADLINES:

Protect Our Care’s Leslie Dach Quoted in HuffPost: Joe Biden To Call For Expanding New Initiatives To Lower Drug Costs. “‘President Biden is doubling down on his efforts to lower drug prices, keep premium costs low, expand Medicaid, and put the health and well-being of families first,” Leslie Dach, chair of the advocacy group Protect Our Care, said in a prepared statement released Wednesday afternoon. Dach also called Biden “a health care president.’” [HuffPost, 3/6/24]

Axios: Biden Speech Again Seeks Credit On Drug Prices. “Drug prices still sync with the Biden campaign’s bigger theme around helping Americans make ends meet…  Biden tonight will try to build on the IRA by calling for expanded Medicare negotiations for at least 50 drugs each year, White House domestic policy adviser Neera Tanden told reporters… Biden will also call on Congress to expand a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket spending for prescription drugs in Medicare to all private insurance plans, and to limit patient cost-sharing for high-value generic drugs to $2 in all Medicare plans, Tanden said.” [Axios, 3/7/24]

The Washington Post: In Third SOTU, Biden Will Urge Congress To Advance His Health Policies. “Biden is expected to urge lawmakers to increase the number of medications subject to annual Medicare price negotiations. He’ll push to extend penalties for drug price hikes to the commercial market. And he’ll advocate for expanding out-of-pocket price caps on prescription drugs.” [The Washington Post, 3/7/24]

CBS News: In State Of The Union Address, Biden To Urge Congress To Pass Measures To Lower Health Care Costs. “President Biden plans to urge Congress to focus on cost-saving ideas for prescription drugs in his State of the Union address Thursday night, including capping out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for all Americans and allowing the federal government to negotiate the prices of widely used medications… The White House also said the president on Thursday night is expected to tout his administration’s work on “surprise” costly medical bills from out-of-network providers and expanding health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.” [CBS News, 3/7/24]

The Hill: Biden To Focus On Drug Prices, Health Costs During State Of The Union. “Medicare will eventually be able to negotiate the prices of 20 drugs under the current law, but White House officials told reporters Wednesday that Biden will propose expanding that number to 50 and bringing more drugs into the program sooner. Biden will also propose extending Medicare’s $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket drug costs to people with commercial insurance… The policies that the president is set to pitch to Congress represent the Biden campaign’s effort to remind voters of the administration’s actions to lower health costs, even though many of the biggest wins won’t take effect this year, while also trying to showcase a path forward for the next four years.” [The Hill, 3/6/24]

STAT: Biden To Propose Expanding Medicare Drug Price Negotiation In State Of The Union. “The expansion is one of several appeals Biden will make to Congress to build on health care measures to lower prescription drug costs and protect patients from surprise medical bills, the White House said… It’s also a tightrope walk for Biden, who is simultaneously trying to build awareness that his administration passed drug pricing policies, even though the biggest ones haven’t gone into effect yet, and pitch a vision to go even further if voters reelect him for a second term.” [STAT, 3/6/24]

Roll Call: Biden To Renew Calls To Lower Health Costs At SOTU. “President Joe Biden will call on Congress to allow Medicare to increase its ability to negotiate drug prices and to expand caps on consumer prescription drug costs during his State of the Union address Thursday… the president will ask Congress to build on work from the 2022 health care and climate law that granted federal authority to negotiate the price of some drugs in Medicare, place caps on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors and charge drug companies if they raise prices at a rate higher than inflation.” [Roll Call, 3/6/24]

Washington, D.C. — Ahead of tomorrow’s State of the Union address, the Biden-Harris administration released an agenda to build on the work of the Inflation Reduction Act and lower health care costs for even more Americans. Specifically, President Biden outlined a list of priorities to lower prescription drug prices, extend affordable health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid, crack down on junk plans and surprise medical expenses, and protect health care for seniors and families for years to come. 

Meanwhile, the Republicans are dead set on raising the costs of health care, denying coverage to millions of people, and slashing funding for critical programs. Learn more about the MAGA-Republican plan for health care here.

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

“Joe Biden is a health care president. From day one, this administration has fought tooth and nail to lower costs and make affordable health care a reality for seniors and families across the nation. In the face of so many attacks on health care from across the aisle, President Biden is doubling down on his efforts to lower drug prices, keep premium costs low, expand Medicaid, and put the health and well-being of families first. By releasing this bold plan to build on the administration’s health care victories, President Biden is addressing the top concern from voters of all parties.” 

Background:

State of the Union 2024: Biden is Bringing Down Health Care Costs as GOP Threats Loom