President Biden on Wednesday will join Sen. Bernard Sanders, a critical link to progressive voters, to lobby for a broad cap on out-of-pocket drug payments and the cost of insulin, hoping to build on key parts of his signature 2022 legislation as he eyes a tough reelection campaign.
Mr. Biden and Democratic allies extended a $2,000 annual cap on prescription costs and a $35 limit on monthly insulin in the Inflation Reduction Act. But they want to grant the benefits to all Americans.
The president also wants to let Medicare negotiate up to 50 drugs per year, an expansion of a signature program that will negotiate down the cost of at least 10 drugs starting in 2026.
Mr. Biden and Mr. Sanders, Vermont independent, will discuss the plans at a White House event designed to draw a contrast with former President Donald Trump and his GOP allies.
The Republican Study Committee, a major bloc of House Republicans, released a fiscal 2025 budget plan that would attack Obamacare and convert Medicare into a premium-support model, breathing life into the health debate in a campaign year.
“Republican officials are still working to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act and gut Medicaid. And they just released a budget that would lead to devastating cuts to Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, increased housing costs and prescription drug costs for families, and huge giveaways for the wealthy and the biggest corporations,” a White House official said in a preview of the event.
High everyday costs from inflation are a major drag on Mr. Biden’s polling numbers and potential reelection prospects, despite rosier metrics in other parts of the economy.
Surveys show voters are sensitive to high grocery costs and other expenses, and Mr. Trump is tied with or leading Mr. Biden in many swing states.
The Biden administration is trying to alleviate price concerns by attacking “junk fees” on things like airline tickets and hotel stays while leaning into health care — a comfortable policy area for Democrats since the GOP failed to repeal and replace Obamacare in 2017.
Mr. Biden is also desperate to retain young voters who drove his victory in 2020.
Mr. Sanders could serve as a critical link to those voters because he is a major champion for ideas like “Medicare-for-all” that appeal to progressive youth.
Alongside Mr. Sanders, Mr. Biden will point to recent efforts to cap the cost of inhalers for the 27 million Americans who suffer from asthma.
The administration says list prices have soared to $200-$600 for persons without insurance, even though it costs companies less than $5 to produce the devices.
“Last fall, the Biden-Harris Administration announced efforts to crack down on falsely claimed patents and increase competition to lower costs,” the White House official said. “One inhaler manufacturer has removed patents as a result, and last month three of the four largest inhaler manufacturers announced that they will cap the cost of inhalers for many patients at $35 per month.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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