2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Requiring The Department Of Health And
Human Services To Negotiate Fair Prices With Drug Manufacturers For
Certain Medicare-Eligible, Brand-Name Drugs Without Generic
Competition. In August 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against concurring in the Senate amendment to the
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which would "require the Health and
Human Services Department to negotiate a 'maximum fair price' with drug
manufacturers for certain Medicare-eligible, brand-name drugs that do
not have generic competition." The vote was on a motion to concur. The
House concurred with the Senate by a vote 220-207, thus the bill was
sent to President Biden for final signage. President Biden signed the
bill and it ultimately became law. [House Vote 420,
8/12/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 8/12/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5376]
The Inflation Reduction Act Fulfilled Democrats' Promise To Lower
Prescription Drug Costs For Seniors. According to The Washington
Post, "The proposal also would make good on Democrats' years-old
pledge to reduce prescription drug costs for the elderly." [The
Washington Post,
8/7/22]
The Bill's Provisions Reforming Prescription Drug Pricing Included
An Authorization For The Federal Government To Negotiate
Prescription Prices For A Small List Of Medicines Starting In
2026. According to The Washington Post, "The prescription drug
pricing reforms aim to help cut costs for seniors enrolled in
Medicare. It caps their out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 annually,
while allowing the U.S. government to negotiate the price of a small
set of medicines beginning in 2026." [The Washington Post,
8/7/22]
The Prescription Drug Pricing Reforms Would Save Seniors Money And
Save Billions In Savings For The Federal Government Over The Next
Ten Years. According to The Washington Post, "The landmark
proposal is expected to save elderly Americans money and achieve
billions in savings for Washington over the next decade." [The
Washington Post,
8/7/22]
The Bill's Fair Negotiation Provision Will Take Effect Only For 10
Drugs Covered Under Medicare By 2026 And Will Increase To 20
Prescriptions In 2029. According to NPR, "The bill includes a
historic measure that allows the federal health secretary to
negotiate the prices of certain expensive drugs each year for
Medicare. But this won't impact every prescription drug or every
patient, and it won't take effect quickly. The negotiations will
take effect for 10 drugs covered by Medicare in 2026, increasing to
20 drugs in 2029." [NPR,
8/7/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Capping The Annual Out-Of-Pocket Limit
At $2,000 For Medicare Part D. In August 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against concurring in the
Senate amendment to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which "For
Medicare Part D, it would cap the annual out-of-pocket limit at
$2,000." The vote was on a motion to concur. The House concurred with
the Senate by a vote 220-207, thus the bill was sent to President Biden
for final signage. President Biden signed the bill and it ultimately
became law. [House Vote 420,
8/12/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 8/12/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5376]
The Bill's Provisions Reforming Prescription Drug Pricing Included
A Cap On Out-Of-Pocket Costs For Seniors Enrolled In Medicare At
$2,000 Annually. According to The Washington Post, "The
prescription drug pricing reforms aim to help cut costs for seniors
enrolled in Medicare. It caps their out-of-pocket costs at $2,000
annually, while allowing the U.S. government to negotiate the price
of a small set of medicines beginning in 2026." [The Washington
Post,
8/7/22]
The Cap For Out-Of-Pocket Prescription Costs For Medicare
Recipients Will Go Into Effect In 2025. According to NPR, "The
bill puts a cap of $2,000 on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs
for people on Medicare, effective in 2025." [NPR,
8/7/22]
The Bill Also Directed The Medicare Program To Offer Free Vaccines
To Patients. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Additionally,
the bill would cap annual out-of-pocket costs for Part D patients at
$2,000, and offer free vaccines to seniors in the Medicare
program." [Congressional Quarterly,
8/7/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Requiring Single-Source Drug
Manufacturers To Grant Rebates For Prescription Drugs Under Medicare
Parts B And D With Prices Higher Than Inflation. In August 2022,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against
concurring in the Senate amendment to the Inflation Reduction Act of
2022, which would "require single-source drug manufacturers to provide
rebates to HHS for the price of drugs under Medicare Parts B and D for
which price increases outpace inflation." The vote was on a motion to
concur. The House concurred with the Senate by a vote 220-207, thus the
bill was sent to President Biden for final signage. President Biden
signed the bill and it ultimately became law. [House Vote 420,
8/12/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 8/12/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5376]
The Inflation Reduction Act Required Pharmaceutical Companies To
Pay Rebates To Health And Human Services If They Increase The
Medicare Drug Prices Greater Than Inflation. According to The
Washington Post, "Pharmaceutical giants, which forcefully opposed
the bill, also would be required to pay 'rebates' to the federal
government if they raise Medicare drug prices beyond the rate of
inflation." [The Washington Post,
8/7/22]
The Senate Parliamentarian Ruled That The Provision On Rebates For
Prescription Prices Could Only Apply To Medicare And Not Private
Health Insurances. According to NPR, "The parliamentarian also
ruled that a measure that was in the bill to force drug companies to
offer rebates if prescription prices outpaced inflation was not
totally in line with the rules for budget reconciliation; she said
that it could apply to Medicare patients but not those with private
insurers." [NPR,
8/7/22]