This edition, discover how the Biden Administration's Medicare price negotiations will affect patients and what actions you can take today. Learn more about how step therapy practices delay patient care, and if possible, please sign the 'Let My Doctors Decide' petition.
As the 2024 elections approach, the future of Affordable Care Act subsidies is uncertain, with potential implications for premium costs and the federal deficit.
Plus, meet Maureen Sullivan-Tevault, our new CDC Ambassador!
1. What the Biden Administration's Medicare Announcement Last Week Means for Patients
The Biden Administration's Medicare price negotiations, targeting diabetes and blood thinners among other drugs, mark a significant step in the Inflation Reduction Act's implementation. While aiming to reduce costs, the Chronic Disease Coalition urges careful management to protect existing patient discount programs and ensure ongoing innovation in chronic disease treatments. Read here.
2. Protect Programs that Lower Patient Out-of-Pocket Costs
The Biden Administration announced that Medicare has negotiated lower prices for certain medications, specifically diabetes and blood thinners (among several others). At the Chronic Disease Coalition, we understand and fully support the goal of reducing the cost of care for patients, but we have to keep our focus on protecting and expanding programs that directly impact patients' bottom lines: Things like rebate programs, copay assistance, and fighting back against step therapy, prior authorization, and more.
Join us and tell your legislators: Please keep making progress for patients!
3. Tell Health Insurance Companies: Patients Deserve To Get The Medicines Their Doctors Prescribe
Image courtesy of: Let My Doctors Decide
The next administration and Congress will shape crucial healthcare policies,. Both the Trump-era tax cuts and Biden's expanded ACA premium tax credits are set to expire, demanding Congressional action in 2025. Beyond these key areas, bipartisan interest may drive reforms in Medicare Advantage, pharmacy benefit manager transparency, and the 340B program. Read more here.
4. Affordable Care Act fight rides on 2024 election outcomes
The future of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies for lower-income Americans hinges on the upcoming election. Enhanced ACA subsidies, which have lowered premiums and boosted enrollment, expire at the end of 2025. If Republicans win, the subsidies are likely to end. If Democrats maintain power, a debate to extend them is expected. The subsidies have significantly reduced premium costs, but their extension could raise the deficit by $335 billion over 10 years. Read the Axios story here for more analysis.
5. CDC Ambassador Spotlight – Maureen Sullivan-Tevault
Image Courtesy of: Maureen Sullivan-Tevault
As we look back on Chronic Disease Month, we thank you all for advocating loud and far! As such, we’d like to highlight one of our newest ambassadors - Maureen Sullivan-Tevault from Tennessee.
“I am a 2x cancer survivor, diagnosed with chronic osteoarthitis and thyroid disease, and am also a certified diabetes education specialist interested in chronic disease self management education. I am a RN/CDCES passionate about patient education and empowerment in the arena of chronic disease management.”
If you’re interested in joining Maureen in our Ambassador program, click here.