***Media Advisory – Today: Capitol Hill Conference on Drug Pricing Proposal***
Senate Democrats and AARP Have Opportunity to Answer Critical Questions on Partisan Drug Pricing Proposal
WASHINGTON – [7/27/22] — Today, Wednesday, July 27 at 3:00 p.m. EST, AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins and other advocates will join Senate Democrats at a press conference to discuss the partisan drug pricing proposal that will be voted on in the U.S. Senate in the coming days. Considering significant details of how the plan is paid for and how the revenues will be used, who will benefit and when remain in dispute among supporters and opponents. This includes whether billions of funds raised as a result of the plan’s implementation meant for Medicare would instead be diverted to fund unrelated spending priorities. Critics claim this could amount to an immediate $287 billion cut to Medicare and that the majority of drug cost savings would not come about for several years.
Accordingly, today’s event provides supporters of the plan to explain some key details and substantiate some of the Democrats’ claims being made to millions of American seniors who rely on Medicare for their healthcare.
Here are five key questions for Senate Democrats on their drug pricing plan:
- Will Senators and supporters of this bill guarantee ALL revenues from the Democrats’ drug pricing plan WILL be fully applied to lowering individual seniors’ drug costs?
- Will Senators and supporters of this bill guarantee ALL revenues from the Democrats’ drug pricing plan WILL NOT be used or borrowed against to pay for any other government programs or spending outside of Medicare?
- Will Senators and supporters of this bill guarantee that Democrats’ drug pricing plan WILL NOT lead to cost-shifting or access restrictions to medicines whereby traditional and supplemental insurance premiums go up, or patients are denied access to certain drugs due to costs?
- Will Senators and supporters of this bill guarantee ANY revenues from the Democrats’ drug pricing plan WILL NOT end up financially benefiting big health insurers who made record profits during the COVID lockdowns while covering far fewer traditional health services for patients and policyholders?
- Will Senators and supporters of this bill DEMAND that the AARP disclose its most recent (2021) tax filings and audited financial statements prior to a vote on reconciliation to provide full transparency to seniors and voters of AARP’s financial relationships with big health insurers like UnitedHealth?
WHO:
- Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow
- Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden
- Senator Amy Klobuchar
- AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins
- Patients for Affordable Drugs Now Founder David Mitchell
- Larry Zarzecki, retired law enforcement officer with Parkinson’s disease
WHEN: TODAY, WEDNESDAY, March 27 at 3:00 p.m. EST
WHERE: The Mike Mansfield Room, S-207, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
RSVP: Robyn_Bryan@stabenow.senate.gov
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