RELEASE: Auchincloss Calls for Medicare to Continue Drug Price Negotiation Program During Shutdown
“House Republicans’ callous disregard for governance and for the health and wellness of Americans must not impede the vital work of CMS in lowering drug prices.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of the approaching government shutdown, Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04) and 40 other Members of the House sent a letter to the Honorable Xavier Becerra, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, to encourage the continuation of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program.
In the letter the members stated, “We understand the Biden Administration is doing everything in its power to ensure Medicare beneficiaries can access the services they need and the providers they depend on during the approaching shutdown. In addition to these immediate responsibilities, we encourage CMS to maintain its pace in meeting deadlines laid out in the IRA for the Negotiation Program.
“House Republicans’ callous disregard for governance and for the health and wellness of Americans must not impede the vital work of CMS in lowering drug prices. Medicare beneficiaries need CMS to stay on track and on task in negotiating with drugmakers.”
A full copy of the letter can be found below and attached.
September 29, 2023
The Honorable Xavier Becerra
Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20201
Dear Secretary Becerra,
As you know, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid’s (CMS) Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program is a critical piece of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It will lower drug costs for millions of Medicare beneficiaries, as part of the president’s commitment to improving economic security for Americans. With the approaching government shutdown, manufactured by the House Republican conference, we write to urge the Biden Administration to continue the Negotiation Program during the shutdown.
We understand the Biden Administration is doing everything in its power to ensure Medicare beneficiaries can access the services they need and the providers they depend on during the approaching shutdown. In addition to these immediate responsibilities, we encourage CMS to maintain its pace in meeting deadlines laid out in the IRA for the Negotiation Program. The IRA provided $3 billion in funding for the implementation of the office tasked with drug price negotiations, which should allow this work to continue during a shutdown.
House Republicans’ callous disregard for governance and for the health and wellness of Americans must not impede the vital work of CMS in lowering drug prices. Medicare beneficiaries need CMS to stay on track and on task in negotiating with drugmakers. We ask you to sustain all operations in that pursuit throughout the shutdown.
Thank you for your consideration of our request and for your work on behalf of beneficiaries in a challenging environment.