White House Event Focuses on Lowering Cost of Health Care

On April 3, President Biden alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), delivered remarks on lowering health care costs for Americans at the White House. Sen. Sanders highlighted the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s investigation into the price of inhalers, with Sanders and Biden referencing three inhaler manufacturers’ commitments to capping the cost of inhalers to $35 starting June 1.

Both called on Congress to build on the Inflation Reduction Act by expanding the Medicare negotiation provisions and extending the $2,000 Medicare Part D out-of-pocket caps to the commercial market. Many of these proposals will be difficult to prioritize in a split Congress; however, should President Biden win re-election and Democrats keep the Senate and regain control of the House in November, these will become more front and center for a potential reconciliation package.