¶ Overview
Bresnahan opposed the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered prescription drug costs and capped the cost of insulin at $35/hour for seniors. More than 450,000 Pennsylvanians took prescription drugs that had been selected for price negotiation under the law’s provisions.
¶ Bresnahan Opposed The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Even Though It Lowered Prescription Drug Costs For Pennsylvania Seniors
¶ Bresnahan Claimed There Were “More Effective Ways To Reduce Drug Prices” Than Through The Inflation Reduction Act’s Provisions
HEADLINE: "Rob Bresnahan Opposes Law That Brought Down Prescription Drug Costs" [The Keystone, 8/26/24]
2024: Bresnahan Opposed The Inflation Reduction Act And Claimed There Were “More Effective Ways To Reduce Drug Prices.” According to the Scranton Times Tribune, "Now, starting in 2026 – Medicare patients will see lower prices on 10 new drugs: Eliquis, Enbrel, Enestro, Farxiga, Fiasp/NovoLog, Imbruvica, Januvia, Jardiance, Stelara, and Xarelto. The drugs treat a variety of conditions including blood clots, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, psoriasis, and Crohn’s disease. […] Rob Bresnahan, Cartwright's opponent in the race for the 8th Congressional District seat of Pennsylvania, believes there are more prudent ways to lower prescription costs. ‘There are more effective ways to reduce drug prices than Congressman Cartwright’s choice to vote for a massive government spending bill that has hampered our economy and contributed to rising costs on everything from food to gas,’ he said. ‘In northeastern PA, which Congressman Cartwright clearly has forgotten about during his 10-plus years in Washington, we call this passing the buck, and it’s making it harder for people to make ends meet.’" [Scranton Times Tribune, 8/19/24]
¶ The Inflation Reduction Act Capped Prescription Drug Costs Under Medicare, Which Benefited More than 450,000 Pennsylvanians
The Inflation Reduction Act Allowed Medicare To Negotiate Prices For Certain Prescription Drugs. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Negotiations are underway between HHS and the participating drug companies of the first 10 prescription drugs selected for negotiation in the first cycle of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. The first 10 drugs selected treat conditions such as blood clots, diabetes, heart disease, heart failure, autoimmune diseases, and chronic kidney disease." [U.S. Health and Human Services, Inflation Reduction Act Of 2022, Viewed 7/1/24]
- The Inflation Reduction Act Required Drug Companies To Pay A Rebate To Medicare If They Raised Prices Faster Than The Rate Of Inflation. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Allowing Medicare to negotiate with participating drug companies to get lower drug prices for certain drugs covered under Medicare Beginning negotiations with the participating drug companies that manufacture all 10 drugs selected for the first cycle of negotiations" [U.S. Health and Human Services, Inflation Reduction Act Of 2022, Viewed 7/1/24]
The Inflation Reduction Act Was Set To Save Over 800,000 Pennsylvanians An Average Of $467 A Year After New Policies Took Effect In 2025. According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “According to projections from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, because of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – his landmark law to lower prescription drug costs – about 830,000 Pennsylvanians will save an average of $467 per year on prescription drug costs when new policies, including the $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on Medicare prescription drug costs go into effect in 2025. This is in addition to the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians who are already saving money on insulin and vaccines because of President Biden’s prescription drug law.” [U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services, The Biden-Harris Administration is Lowering Health Care Costs for Hundreds of Thousands of People Across Pennsylvania, Viewed 7/10/25]
More Than 450,000 Pennsylvanians Were Prescribed Drugs That Had Been Selected For Price Negotiation Under The Inflation Reduction Act.
[U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services, Lowering Prescription Drug Costs For Pennsylvania, Viewed 7/9/25]