***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 16 AT 10:30 AM ET***
Concord, NH — Today, December 16 at 10:30 AM ET, U.S. Representative Annie Kuster (D-NH-02), Granite State Progress, and local advocates will join Protect Our Care New Hampshire to discuss the House passage of the Build Back Better Act, the most significant expansion of affordable health care since the Affordable Care Act.
The landmark legislation includes measures to deliver relief to American families by lowering insurance premiums, giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, expanding affordable coverage to millions by closing the Medicaid coverage gap, expanding Medicare benefits, and investing $150 billion in home care for seniors and people with disabilities. During the call, speakers will stress the urgent need for the Senate to move quickly to pass the bill so millions of Americans can finally afford the health care they need.
VIRTUAL EVENT:
WHO: U.S. Representative Annie Kuster (D-NH-02) Lucy Hodder, University of New Hampshire Law Zandra Rice Hawkins, Granite State Progress Mike Castaldo
WHAT: Virtual Press Conference to Discuss Historic Health Provisions in Build Back Better Act and Call for Immediate Passage in the Senate
Washington, DC — Protect Our Care is launching new digital ads today in eight key districts calling out Republican lawmakers for their votes against the Build Back Better Act. While American families are struggling with high costs, Republicans voted against reforms that will level the playing field for working families by lowering health insurance premiums and giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices.
The ads will run in the following districts: Ted Budd (R-NC-13), Steve Chabot (R-OH-01), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL-26), Scott Perry (R-PA-10), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), David Schweikert (R-AZ-06), and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02).
“If Republicans had their way, drug prices would continue to skyrocket and millions of people would pay higher health insurance premiums, right when families need relief most,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “Thankfully, President Biden and Democrats are in charge, and they are committed to delivering lower costs for families struggling to make ends meet. It has never been more clear that Republicans are out of touch with the worries that keep families up at night, and they are willing to put their political goals above the well-being of the people they represent. We will do everything in our power to ensure Americans remember who stood by Big Pharma and special interests and who stood up for working families.”
Example (PA-10) Ad Script:
Everyone’s feeling it.
Costs keep going up and up.
Health insurance and drug companies make record profits.
But, millions of Americans can’t keep up.
And Congressman Scott Perry just voted AGAINST the Build Back Better Act which lowers health care costs for millions of families.
Against the plan that gives Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices.
And against the plan that lowers health premiums by thousands of dollars.
With everything people are dealing with right now, Congressman Perry voted for higher health care costs for you.
SHOT: Gallup Poll Finds “Surge” In Americans Struggling To Afford Health Care, With Nearly A Third Reporting They’ve Skipped Medical Care Due To Cost. “Nearly a third of Americans — triple the share since March— say they’ve skipped medical care for a health problem in the previous three months due to concerns about the cost, according to a new study from Gallup and West Health.” [CBS News, 12/14/21]
CHASER: Because Of Build Back Better, Families Could Save Thousands Of Dollars In Health Care Costs Every Year.Build Back Better will lower premium costs, give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, cap insulin co-pays at $35 per month, extend hearing benefits to seniors so they can afford hearing aids, and extend affordable coverage to working families in states that have rejected Medicaid expansion.
A 60-year-old couple with a household income of $75,000 will save $1,389 in monthly premiums—more than $16,000 in savings a year.
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to limit Medicare premium increases for millions of seniors caused by one greedy pharmaceutical company. CMS previously announced that it would raise Medicare Part B premiums in response to the unprecedented price tag of Biogen’s new Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm. The approval of Aduhelm has forced Medicare to establish a contingency reserve in the event Medicare decides to cover the medication. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:
“For far too long, Big Pharma’s greed has gone unchecked, and Americans from all walks of life have struggled to afford the drugs they need. Senator Wyden is right: seniors should not have to front the costs of an outrageously expensive, unproven drug. Big drug company executives should not be cashing in at the expense of millions of seniors struggling to afford their everyday health costs. Aduhelm’s high price tag only underscores the urgent need to pass the Build Back Better Act, which will lower costs, and ensure seniors are able to access the prescription drugs they need to live full and healthy lives.”
***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 10 AT 3:00 PM ET***
Wilmington, DE– Today, December 10 at 3:00 PM ET, Delaware State Senators Sarah McBride and Kyle Evans Gay Join, and storytellers will join Protect Our Care Delaware to discuss the House passage of the Build Back Better Act, the most significant expansion of affordable health care since the Affordable Care Act.
The landmark legislation includes measures to deliver relief to American families by lowering insurance premiums, giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, expanding affordable coverage to millions by closing the Medicaid coverage gap, expanding Medicare benefits, and investing $150 billion in home care for seniors and people with disabilities. During the call, speakers will stress the urgent need for the Senate to move quickly to pass the bill so millions of Americans can finally afford the health care they need.
VIRTUAL EVENT: WHO: State Senator Sarah McBride State Senator Kyle Evans Gay Storytellers
WHAT: Virtual Press Conference to Discuss Historic Health Provisions in Build Back Better Act and Call for Immediate Passage in the Senate
***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 10 AT 9:30 AM ET***
Boca Raton, FL — Today, December 10 at 9:30 AM ET, U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL-22) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-23), and local advocates will join Protect Our Care Florida to discuss the House passage of the Build Back Better Act, the most significant expansion of affordable health care since the Affordable Care Act.
The landmark legislation includes measures to deliver relief to American families by lowering insurance premiums, giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, expanding affordable coverage to millions by closing the Medicaid coverage gap, expanding Medicare benefits, and investing $150 billion in home care for seniors and people with disabilities. During the call, speakers will stress the urgent need for the Senate to move quickly to pass the bill so millions of Americans can finally afford the health care they need.
VIRTUAL EVENT: WHO: U.S. Representative Ted Deutch (D-FL-22) U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-23) Scott Darius, Executive Director for Florida Voices for Health Bill Sauers, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans President
WHAT: Virtual Press Conference to Discuss Historic Health Provisions in Build Back Better Act and Call for Immediate Passage in the Senate
***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9th at 9:15AM***
The Build Back Better Act will lower health care costs for millions of people, the Senate should pass the legislation without delay
Raleigh, NC — On Thursday, December 9th at 9:15AM, elected officials including U.S. Representatives G.K. Butterfield (NC-01) and Deborah Ross (NC-02) will join Protect Our Care North Carolina to discuss the House passage of the Build Back Better Act, the most significant expansion of affordable health care since the Affordable Care Act. The legislation includes historic measures to strengthen American health care, lower insurance premiums, give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, expand affordable coverage to millions by closing the Medicaid coverage gap, expand Medicare benefits, and invest $150 billion in home care for seniors and people with disabilities. Health care is a fundamental part of the Build Back Better agenda, and the plans to reduce costs and expand care are the top issues for voters. It is urgent that the Senate move quickly to pass this historic legislation. Every single House Republican rejected these measures to lower costs and improve care, but Democrats have their finger on the pulse of America – delivering relief where families need it most.
WHO:
U.S. Representative G.K. Butterfield (NC-01)
U.S. Representative Deborah Ross (NC-02)
North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Dr. Bobbie Richardson
DonnaMarie Woodson, cancer survivor that relies on the Affordable Care Act
Herb Harton, senior facing high prescription drug prices
The Capping Prescription Costs Act Would Lower Drug Costs for Families Nationwide
Washington, DC — Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) introduced the Capping Prescription Costs Act, legislation that could save families thousands on their prescription drug costs every year. Under this legislation, millions of individuals with private insurance would pay no more than $3,000 per year for their prescription drugs, and families’ drug costs would be capped at $6,000 annually. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:
“American families could save thousands of dollars a year under the Capping Prescription Drug Costs Act. In the wealthiest country on earth, no one should be forced to choose between essentials like food or rent and the medications they need to survive. This legislation works to lower families’ everyday health care costs so they can have a little bit more breathing room. Senator Reverend Warnock is a true health care champion, and this bill is just a testament to his unwavering commitment to ensuring every American is able to afford the health care they need.”
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) and U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18) joined Protect Our Care to discuss the Build Back Better Act’s critical provisions to make insulin more affordable. The bill caps insulin costs at $35 per month for millions of patients with health insurance. The Build Back Better Act also works to deliver relief to families by giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, cracking down on outrageous price increases, and capping seniors’ out-of-pocket drug costs.
In addition to lowering prescription drug costs, the historic legislation extends affordable coverage to millions of Americans, reduces premium costs, enhances Medicare benefits for seniors to include hearing, and makes bold investments in maternal health. During the call, speakers discussed how it is essential for Congress to pass Build Back Better with all of the health care measures intact to deliver lower health care and prescription drug costs to working families nationwide.
“No one should have to choose between the insulin they need to live and other necessities like food, housing, or child care. Patients have enough to worry about without constantly dreading the question, ‘how in the world am I going to pay for this?’ That’s why Build Back Better takes significant new steps to lower drug costs for families, put money back in Americans’ pockets, and cap the price of insulin at $35 a month for people on Medicare and people with private insurance. If we are going to build a stronger, fairer nation in the wake of this pandemic, that has to include building a health care system that is focused on patients’ health, not drug companies’ profits,” said Senator Patty Murray (D-WA).
“Every day, I hear from Minnesotans struggling to pay for their medicine. Americans should not be required to pay three times more for their medications than people in other parts of the world, while drug companies go about the business of making huge profits,” said United States Senator Tina Smith (D-MN). “The Build Back Better Act will finally give Medicare the authority and the tools to negotiate for lower prices for certain medications, including insulin. If you are a person living with diabetes, and you get your health insurance through Medicare or through private insurance, you won’t pay more than $35 a month. This is a big deal.”
“The price of insulin has tripled in the last 15 years. And these price hikes have forced so many Americans to choose between buying their prescriptions and paying their mortgage, their rent, their groceries, and the other essentials in their day to day lives. In fact, one in four diabetes patients reports rationing their insulin, which is life threatening,” said Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA). “In my family, we lost a young member in his early 20s to diabetes. He left a young wife and a newborn baby. So for millions of others, as well as in my family, this is personal. It’s about the American family and being able to care for one another. The Build Back Better Act is going to lower costs for patients — it’s going to save lives.”
“I first rationed my insulin in 2009 when I was underinsured and I was working two jobs just out of college. The price for my insulin was over $1,000 for one month’s supply, and that’s well beyond my means. I gambled with my life, as many diabetics have done,” said Kevin Wren, a type 1 diabetic from Washington. “It’s dehumanizing not being able to afford insulin, and our desire to live is exploited and extorted by pharmaceutical manufacturers like Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi. The price of insulin has increased unabated for almost 30 years now, and the Build Back Better Act will take great steps and allow the HHS Secretary to negotiate for lower prices. I think this is a huge win and a great step.”
“Build Back Better takes a bold step forward to ensure millions of patients can afford their insulin,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “In the wealthiest nation on earth, it is shameful that so many families are forced to choose between essentials like food or rent and the medications they need to survive. Build Back Better works to put an end to the status quo by cracking down on big drug companies who have abused the system for far too long. Families are counting on Congress to pass Build Back Better so they can sleep easier at night knowing they can finally afford the health care they need.”
Today, President Biden delivered remarks on the Build Back Better Act’s critical provisions to make prescription drugs more affordable for millions of patients. The event featured health care storyteller, Iesha Meza, a young Arizonan and type 1 diabetic who has struggled to afford her insulin. As it stands, Americans pay three times more for their medications than people in other countries, forcing families to choose between paying for food or rent and affording the medications they need to survive. Build Back Better works to end this broken system by giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, cracking down on outrageous price increases, limiting insulin copays to $35 per month for millions of diabetics with insurance, and capping seniors’ out-of-pocket drug costs. Today’s event made clear that the Senate should work quickly to pass Build Back Better to deliver long-overdue relief to families.
HEADLINES:
POLITICO: Biden Touts Drug Pricing Plan In Push For Social Spending Bill. “‘These price increases are about companies looking to maximize profits, and nobody is standing up for the patients,’ he said in a speech at the White House. ‘Nobody has held the manufacturers accountable until now.’ [Biden] noted the extraordinary lengths some Americans go to afford drugs that cost considerably less in comparable nations, including rationing their supplies or choosing between paying for medicine or other life necessities.” [POLITICO, 12/6/21]
NPR: Biden Calls On Congress To Pass His Build Back Better Bill To Lower Drug Costs. “The president pointed to the cost of insulin needed to treat Type 1 diabetes, which Biden says affects some 1.5 million Americans, who pay anywhere from $375 to $1000 per month for the drug. The House-passed measure would cap insulin prices at $35 per month. ‘I think it’s safe to say that all of us, all of us, whatever our age, where ever we live, we can agree that prescription drugs are outrageously expensive in this country.’” [NPR, 12/6/21]
The Hill: Biden Points To Drug Prices In Call For Senate Social Spending Vote. “Lowering drug prices is one of the most popular parts of Biden’s sweeping climate and social spending measure, and Democrats are looking to tout the changes and hammer Republicans for opposing them. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found 83 percent of the public supports allowing the government to lower the prices.” [The Hill, 12/6/21]
Bloomberg: Biden Calls Drugs ‘Outrageously Expensive,’ Prods Senate To Act. “The package would also cap what most insured Americans pay out-of-pocket for insulin at $35 per month and limit what Medicare beneficiaries pay each year on medications to $2,000 per year. Before he spoke, Biden met with two young women with diabetes who would benefit from less expensive insulin.” [Bloomberg, 12/6/21]
CNN: Biden Says He Wants His Social Safety Net Bill Passed ‘as Early As We Can Get It’ As Negotiations Drag On. “‘There aren’t a lot of things that almost every American can agree on, but I think it’s safe to say that all of us … can agree that prescription drugs are outrageously expensive in this country,’ Biden said…”It doesn’t need to be that way’…Biden met with two women who suffer from diabetes ahead of his remarks. The bill, if passed, would cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries and those with private insurance.” [CNN, 12/6/21]
MarketWatch: Biden Promises Build Back Better Plan Will Slash ‘Outrageously Expensive’ Drug Prices As Democrats Push To Pass Bill Before Christmas. “The bill features an annual cap of $2,000 on out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare recipients. Pressing lawmakers to ‘finish the job’ on the Build Back Better plan, Biden said diseases like diabetes or cancer ‘don’t care whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican. This is not a partisan issue,’ he said.” [MarketWatch, 12/6/21]
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