We need to control prescription drug prices – Rio Grande Guardian

HARLINGEN, Texas – Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragán said she recently met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris when they announced plans to reduce prescription drug costs.

When asked about the plan, US Congressman Vicente Gonzalez said:

“These are basic needs that I think communities like those in the Rio Grande Valley have. We need to control prescription drugs. We need to control inflation, which has gone down, we need to raise wages and we need to make higher education more accessible. I think this administration will come up with many other proposals.”

When asked whether the Inflation Control Act played a role, Gonzalez said:

“The Inflation Reduction Act capped insulin and other prescription drugs at $35 a month, which goes into effect next month. It will have an extraordinary impact on our community as we have one of the highest diabetes rates in the country.

“A lot of people are taking this particular prescription and I think it's going to provide a tremendous benefit. Medicare recipients, I believe, will be capped at $1,500 a year. So we're going to see a lot of inflation relief in the next cycle.”

Gonzalez was recently in San Benito to make an announcement about a federal grant for Cameron County Irrigation District No. 2. He said that grant, too, was made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act.

“We are implementing conservation projects that will greatly help with the water problem we have here in South Texas. Not a single Republican voted for these proposals. Yet hundreds of millions of dollars coming from this bill will be invested in water infrastructure here in South Texas,” Gonzalez said.

“This is something that I have supported and continue to support, trying to give small communities, municipalities and water districts the nutrients they need to get these resources.”

When asked if no Republican congressman from Texas voted for the inflation control bill or if no Republican from across the United States voted against it, Gonzalez replied, “No Republican from across the country.”

Editor's Note: Here is an audio interview the Rio Grande Guardian conducted with Congressman Gonzalez in Harlingen on August 26, 2024:

The perspective of US Representative Henry Cuellar

U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar expressed his joy at the announcement of lower costs for the country's most expensive prescription drugs amid the Medicare crisis.

“I voted to pass the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act), which lowered health care and prescription drug costs for Americans. Not only did it cap the monthly cost of insulin for seniors with Medicare at $35, it also capped the deductible for prescription drugs for seniors,” said Cuellar, a ranking member of the House Budget Committee.

“In addition, thanks to the IRA, the administration was able to negotiate lower costs for ten of the most expensive prescription drugs under Medicare. This is a historic achievement and will provide needed relief to Americans. I voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to ensure Americans get the help they need. I will continue to support efforts to reduce health care costs.”

Cuellar said the 10 drugs whose prices were negotiated down include Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Enbrel, Imbruvica, Stelara and NovoLog/Fiasp.

Cuellar said that through the IRA, more than 100,000 Texans with Medicare save an average of $441 a year through the price cap on insulin alone. He said insulin costs for Medicare beneficiaries are capped at $35 a month and prescription drug costs are capped at $2,000 a year.

Cuellar added that the $2,000 IRA deductible cap, which takes effect in 2025, will save 1.3 million Texans an average of $400 per year.

The perspective of US Representative Nanette Barragán

Barragán, chair of the CHC, said she was pleased to join Biden and Harris in announcing new policies to help millions of families and communities across America, including Latinos, save money on prescription drugs. She said this means they won't have to choose between their health care and other everyday expenses for their families.

Barragán said that in a historic move to lower prescription drug prices, the Biden-Harris administration succeeded in negotiating lower costs for 10 of the most expensive drugs in the Medicare program, providing significant relief to millions of Americans, especially low-income Latinos, who often face difficult financial decisions due to high drug costs.

These new prices, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, will provide much-needed savings, Barragán said. Medicare is expected to save $6 billion and beneficiaries will see a $1.5 billion reduction in their out-of-pocket costs.

Barragán said these drugs, used to treat serious illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer – diseases that are particularly common in the Latino community – would now be more affordable and accessible.

“This effort was made possible in part by the work of Democrats in Congress who passed the Anti-Inflation Act. I also want to thank Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra for his leadership throughout the Medicare negotiation process. This announcement underscores our commitment to putting people over politics and making life-saving medicines accessible to all communities,” Barragán added.