- President Biden announced 10 medications that are in the first round of prescription drugs subject to Medicare negotiation
- Lehigh Valley Congresswoman Susan Wild said she will continue to fight big pharma
- Cost negotiations won't start until at least 2026
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley on Wednesday praised an announcement this week by President Joe Biden that would add 10 medications to cost-cutting measures outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Wild's statement came after Biden this week touted the potential including a move that would give Medicare the ability to negotiate drug prices with large pharmaceutical companies.
The president signed the act last year, but this week announced the list of new drugs, including a handful used to treat diabetes.
“For too long, Americans have been paying more for our medications than people in any other country," Wild, a Democrat who serves Pennsylvania’s 7th District, said in a news release.
"Giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices chips away at Big Pharma’s ability to rake in a profit at the expense of people struggling to afford their medications.
“Medicare negotiation is an enormous win that will lower costs for the more than 455,000 Pennsylvanians."Congresswoman Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley
“Medicare negotiation is an enormous win that will lower costs for the more than 455,000 Pennsylvanians that depend on any one of these 10 drugs, and it’s projected to save taxpayers nearly $100 billion by 2031.”
Fighting for lower costs
Wild has fought for lower-cost prescriptions, particularly insulin, since her first year in office, 2019. The cost of insulin was capped at $35 a month for seniors on Medicaid as part of the Inflation Reduction Act she supported.
“I’m proud to have pushed to make this happen, and I will keep taking on Big Pharma to get your costs down."U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley
Although negotiations between Medicare Part D and the drug companies will not go into effect for three years — in 2026 — Wild said she will continue her fight and open negotiations on more drugs in follow up bills.
“I’m proud to have pushed to make this happen, and I will keep taking on Big Pharma to get your costs down,” she said.
Many conservatives and pharmaceutical companies are opposing the current negotiations through lawsuits. Political mailers have been sent out in the district going against the Wild and the drug negotiations.
