ICYMI: Arizona Seniors To Benefit From Lower Drug Prices Opposed by Big Pharma, Congressman Schweikert

Last Year's Inflation Reduction Act Empowers Medicare To Negotiate Cost of Prescription Drugs

PHOENIX — The Inflation Reduction Act is set to lower drug prices for Arizona seniors, but Republicans in Congress like David Schweikert and pharmaceutical corporations oppose the law and are threatening to overturn it.

The Biden administration last week announced the first 10 drugs to be targeted for price negotiation. The law will cap out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 a year for Arizonans on Medicare, like Doug Hart, a Valley resident who takes Eliquis—one of the 10 prescriptions included in the announcement.. 

According to ABC15:

“In 2022, Hart spent $17,000 out of pocket for prescription drugs. He's spent $7,000 out of pocket for medications so far in 2023.

“Hart is one of 165,000 Arizonans who hope to benefit from the first-ever Medicare price negotiations.

“‘The number one reason why seniors skip or ration their medications is because they cannot afford it. So, this will save millions of Arizonans a lot of money on their prescription drug costs,’ said Dana Kennedy, State Director for AARP.”

Congressman Schweikert claims he has a  ‘fixation’ on diabetes, but the Inflation Reduction Act that he voted against will lower the cost of at least three expensive medications that are commonly prescribed for diabetes patients and caps the cost of insulin at $35 for Medicare recipients.

“Congressman Schweikert says he’s looking out for Arizonans like Doug but then he votes against laws that lower Doug’s out-of-pocket costs,” said Honest Arizona executive director Andrea Moreno. “Congressman Schweikert needs to start looking out for Arizonans and put his constituents ahead of the wealthy and large corporations.”

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