WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the Rose Garden this afternoon, President Biden celebrated the Department of Health and Human Services’ announcement that, for the first time in more than a decade, premiums for Medicare Part B will decrease next year. The average Medicare beneficiary will see an annual decrease of more than $60 per year, according to an announcement by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Crediting the Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden stated, “for years, Big Pharma has stood in the way. Not this year. This year, the American people won, and Big Pharma lost.”
During his announcement, the President offered a stiff rebuke to Congressional Republicans, who have voiced their intent to repeal Democrats’ newly-passed drug pricing measure included in the Inflation Reduction Act, should Republicans flip one or both chambers of Congress this November.
Voices of Health Care Action Founder Laura Packard issued the following statement:
“Once again, President Biden has demonstrated his dedication to protecting and strengthening Medicare and lowering health costs for Americans. A health care champion, he has consistently prioritized reducing the cost of health insurance and prescription drugs for millions of Americans.
Five years ago, while receiving treatment for stage 4 cancer, Republicans in Congress made repeated efforts to strip away the life-saving care that I needed.
Now they are now targeting drug pricing provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. Just as the House GOP announced their “Commitment to America” agenda, which claims to expand access to affordable health care, they’ve stated their intent to repeal crucial measures aimed at lowering prescription drug prices for Americans.
This should alarm all voters, no matter their political affiliation. Every American should have access to affordable care that allows them to be healthy and thrive. This year, we must vote for health care champions who put people—and their health—first instead of Big Pharma profits.”
Laura Packard is the founder of Voices of Health Care Action, executive director of Health Care Voter, and a stage 4 cancer survivor. The Affordable Care Act saved her life. She is a co-host of Care Talk, a call-in health care show on act.tv to answer America’s health insurance questions about the ACA, Medicare and Medicaid (airing Mondays at 4:30pm ET). If you’d like to connect with Laura to discuss President Biden’s announcement and how this November is a health care election, please reach out to juan.fortenberry@firesidecampaigns.com.
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