It concerns the prescription drug & health subsidy portions of the law.
Baltimore, Md (KM) The Maryland Health Care For All Coalition surveyed the candidates running for Congress on whether they support keeping the Inflation Reduction Act in place. President Vinnie DeMarco says the legislation has kept high cost drugs affordable for people on Medicare.
He says the Coalition received answers from the candidates running in the 6th Congressional District. “I want the people of the people of the 6th District to know that April {McClain} Delaney {D} supports it, and would support keeping that law in place. But Neil Parrott {R} would not,” says DeMarco.
In past comments, Parrott has said the Inflation Reduction Act does nothing of the sort, and he would like to see it repealed. But he has said he is open to keeping the provisions regarding prescription drugs in place.
The Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law by President Biden two years ago.
A statement from the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition says the health benefits part of the law are bringing down the cost of medications, and making health insurance more affordable. DeMarco says it has been good news for Medicare patients who need insulin. “First of all, it makes insulin only cost $35 a month for people on Medicare. And we knew people from whom it was costing a lot more. As of the Inflation Reduction Act, nobody on Medicare pays more than $35 month for insulin,” he says.
He also says 15 million Americans pay an average of $800 annually on their health insurance premiums. “As of January 1, 2025,, nobody on Medicare pays more than $2,000 a year out-of-pocket costs. And many people on Medicare are paying s lot more than that,” DeMarco says,.
Next year, the Inflation Reduction Act will allow Medicare for the first time to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs with pharmaceutical companies “which have been gouging Medicare and robbing of all of us, really,. of money for the cost of these drugs,” says DeMarco.
But DeMarco says parts of the Inflation Reduction Act which provide subsidies for health care coverage are set to expire next year. “Part that would expire are these critical subsidies that helped thousands of Marylanders afford their Affordable Care Act coverage. Those will expire at the end of 2025 unless they’re expanded. So we need a commitment from Congress to expand that. April {McClain} Delaney has committed to expanding it and keeping it in place, Neil Parrott has not,” he says.
In the 8th District Congressional race, Incumbent Representative Jaime Raskin (D) has said he will support the Inflation Reduction Act. Both US Senate Candidates Angela Alsobrooks (D)) and :Larry Hogan (R) have said they will support the Inflation Reduction Act.
“We don’t endorse anybody. But we think it’s important for Marylanders to know how the candidates stand and their history on prescription drug affordability and health care coverage,” says DeMarco.
By Kevin McManus