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FACT CHECK: Dems’ Drug Pricing Scheme Means Higher Prices and Fewer Cures

September 29, 2022 — Bidenflation    — Democrats' Drug Price Control Scheme    — Health    — Press Releases    — The Prescription Pad   

Democrats’ policies led to the highest Medicare premium increase in history last year, and now that seniors are getting a partial refund nearly a year later, the Biden Administration is rushing to claim a victory ahead of November. This is blatant political gamesmanship.

The Facts:

Background:

November 12th 2021– CMS announces the largest premium and deductible increase in Medicare history.  They specifically called out one specific high-cost Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm, as a primary driver in the increase, coincidentally right as House Democrats were trying to get their cure-killing price controls passed into law.

April 7th, 2022– CMS finalizes a national coverage determination for Aduhelm and other drugs like it that severely restricts Medicare beneficiaries access to the drug.

April 28th, 2022– Brady grills Sec. Becerra on what CMS is going to do now that it’s clear seniors are being overcharged for a drug they don’t have access to. (27:14 mark)

September 27th, 2022– CMS announces a $5.20 decrease in Medicare Part B premiums (the first decrease since 2012).  In their announcement, CMS acknowledges that the 2022 premium included a contingency margin that exceeded projected spending, both because of lower than projected spending on Aduhelm (due to beneficiaries having access restricted) and other Part B costs. Some but not all of this excess margin from 2022 is now being used to lower premiums for 2023. Despite being happy to single out one drug as being the driving factor for premium increases in last year’s announcement, the Administration is yet to answer questions about the details of this premium change, including what percentage of last year’s excess is being applied to this year’s premium and how much continues to be held in reserve.