Biden’s Budget Expands Inflation Reduction Act’s Rx Price Negotiation

Schweikert & Ciscomani Opposed Inflation Reduction Act

PHOENIX — President Biden’s newly unveiled budget would build on the Inflation Reduction Act’s hugely popular Medicare negotiation provision, empowering Medicare to negotiate the price of even more prescription drugs and drawing a sharp contrast with Congressmen Juan Ciscomani and David Schweikert who have both opposed the Inflation Reduction Act.

According to Forbes, the President would:

“accelerate Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices. In 2022, Congress gave Medicare the ability to negotiate prices but only for 10 drugs starting in 2026, with the number gradually increasing by 15-20 annually from 2027 through 2029. The drug industry has filed multiple lawsuits attempting to block even limited price negotiations under the 2022 law. Biden also would limit Medicare beneficiary co-pays to $2 for a 30-day supply of certain generic drugs.”

Schweikert voted against the law in 2022 and both he and Congressman Ciscomani have received donations from industry special interests suing to undermine Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices. Both congressmen are members of the Republican Study Committee that proposed eliminating Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices. 

“Arizonans have long called on their representatives in Congress to lower drug prices, and President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act does just that,” said Andrea Moreno, Executive Director for Honest Arizona. “Congressmen Schweikert and Ciscomani have opposed the Inflation Reduction Act which is lowering drug prices, but it’s time to stop. Congressmen: it’s time to stand up for your constituents and support Medicare price negotiation, instead of special interests.”

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