Greene County Democrat

Tag: Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra

  • Newswire : Biden Administration secures historic victory in Medicare drug price negotiations, projected to save billions

    By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent


    In a move hailed as a significant win for seniors, the Biden administration announced it has successfully negotiated substantial price reductions for 10 of Medicare’s most expensive and widely used prescription drugs. The result of intense negotiations with pharmaceutical giants, the move is expected to deliver billions in savings for both U.S. taxpayers and millions of older Americans who rely on these medications to manage chronic and life-threatening conditions.
    The White House revealed that the newly negotiated prices could save U.S. taxpayers a staggering $6 billion. In comparison, Medicare beneficiaries are projected to save an estimated $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs during the first year of implementation. The price cuts are a direct outcome of the Inflation Reduction Act, a legislative victory that has empowered the federal government to negotiate drug prices directly with manufacturers for the first time in history.
    Dramatic Price Reductions Across Critical Medications

    The impact of these negotiations will be felt across a range of critical medications, including drugs that treat heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other severe conditions. Among the most notable price reductions:
    Eliquis, a blood thinner from Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer, will drop its price from $521 to $231—a nearly 60% reduction.
    Imbruvica, a blood cancer treatment from AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson, will be reduced from $14,934 to $9,319, with a monthly savings of more than $5,600.
    Januvia, a diabetes medication from Merck, will now cost $113, down from $527—a 75% reduction.

    The price changes, which will take effect in 2026, represent a seismic shift in Medicare’s interaction with the pharmaceutical industry, marking a new era of accountability and affordability.
    A Landmark Moment for Medicare
    “This is a historic moment,” declared Neera Tanden, White House domestic policy adviser, during a press call. “For the first time, we are harnessing the power of Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, and millions of seniors and others on Medicare will soon see their drug costs go down on some of the most common and expensive drugs.”
    Medicare, which currently insures over 65 million Americans, has long been barred from negotiating drug prices. Officials said this restriction left millions of seniors grappling with skyrocketing prescription costs, but the Biden administration’s successful negotiation represented a dramatic reversal of the status quo and a significant step toward making healthcare more affordable.
    The Inflation Reduction Act, which officials said made the negotiations possible, also includes other critical provisions to reduce healthcare costs, such as capping insulin prices at $35 per month and placing an annual cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries.

    Strong Leadership and Continued Commitment

    Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who played a vital role in the negotiations, described the process as “intense,” noting that it required “hard-nosed bargaining” to secure these deals. Vice President Kamala Harris called the agreement “life-changing” for millions of Americans and said it reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to continuing the fight against Big Pharma’s “price-gouging practices.”
    “For years, millions of Americans were forced to choose between paying for medications or putting food on the table, while Big Pharma blocked Medicare from being able to negotiate prices on behalf of seniors and people with disabilities. But we fought back—and won,” President Biden added.
    Officials said the administration has already set its sights on expanding these negotiations. In 2025, the administration plans to negotiate prices for up to 15 additional drugs under Medicare Part D, with more to follow in subsequent years.
    A Turning Point for American Healthcare
    White House officials said the move signals a new era in which the federal government can take on powerful pharmaceutical interests and deliver actual savings to millions of people who need it most.
    “Every American should be able to access the health care they need, no matter their income or wealth,” Harris said. “Today’s announcement will be life-changing for so many of our loved ones across the nation, and we are not stopping here.”

  • Newswire: Biden issues proclamation for Black Maternal Health Week

     Black pregnant mother and child


     

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    In 2022, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra implemented actions to improve maternal health and reduce health disparities, and this year, the Biden-Harris Administration has continued to champion policies to improve maternal health and equity.
Vice President Kamala Harris convened a meeting with Becerra and other Cabinet leaders amplifying a whole-of-government approach to reducing maternal mortality and morbidity.
On Monday, April 10, President Biden issued another proclamation to begin Black Maternal Health Week.
The president called the week a reminder that so many families experience pain, neglect, and loss during what should be a joyous occasion.
Biden called it urgent that all act.
“Black women in America are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women,” the president remarked.
“This is on top of the fact that women in America are dying at a higher rate from pregnancy-related causes than in any other developed nation.”
He insisted that tackling the crisis begins with understanding how institutional racism drives these high maternal mortality rates.
Studies show that Black women are often dismissed or ignored in hospitals and other health care settings, even as they suffer from severe injuries and pregnancy complications and ask for help, the president reminded.
He said systemic inequities are also to blame.
“When mothers do not have access to safe and stable housing before and after childbirth, they are at greater risk of falling ill,” Biden exclaimed.
“When women face barriers traveling to the hospital for prenatal and postpartum checkups, they are less likely to remain healthy. Air pollution, water pollution, and lead pipes can have dangerous consequences for pregnant women and newborns. And when families cannot afford nutritious foods, they face worse health outcomes.”
He claimed his administration has penned the blueprint for addressing the maternal health crisis, an agenda that lays out specific actions the federal government would take to improve maternal health and secured funding from Congress to help implement it.
“Vice President Kamala Harris has been a leader on the issue of maternal mortality for years and led the charge to improve maternal health outcomes, including by issuing a call to action to address disparities in maternal care,” Biden stated.
“She continues to elevate the issue nationally, convening State legislators, medical professionals, and others so all mothers can access the care they need before, during, and after childbirth.”
The president continued:
“Additionally, my American Rescue Plan gave States the option to provide a full year of postpartum coverage to Medicaid beneficiaries — up from just 60 days of coverage.
“As a result, my Administration has approved requests from 30 States and Washington, D.C. to provide women with Medicaid coverage with a full year of postpartum coverage, and we have made this option permanent for every State that extends Medicaid postpartum coverage.
“My Administration has helped facilitate Medicaid expansion in four States since I took office, and I continue to call on the Congress to close the Medicaid coverage gap.
“We are also working to expand and diversify the maternal health workforce, helping health care providers hire and train diverse and culturally competent physicians, certified nurse midwives, doulas, and community health workers to support women during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care.”
The president’s budget includes $471 million to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates, improving access to care in rural communities, expanding implicit bias training for health care providers, and further supporting the perinatal health workforce.
“This week, as we continue our work to make pregnancy and childbirth safe, dignified, and joyful for all, let us remember that health care should be a right and not a privilege,” Biden continued.
“Let us give thanks to the extraordinary maternal health care workforce, which serves its patients and their families every day. And let us join in common cause to end the tragedy of maternal mortality once and for all.”