Affordable Virginia Celebrates Two Years Since the Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act
The Organization Calls Out Republicans, Like Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, for Opposing Life Saving Legislation
Virginia Beach, Va. – Today, Affordable Virginia marks the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the impact it has had on improving the lives of working families in Virginia.
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden-Harris Administration announced Thursday that after months of negotiations, Medicare has reached agreements to lower the price for 10 of the highest-cost drugs. This means, for the first time Medicare can negotiate directly with participating drug companies to lower the price of some of the costliest drugs.
“From the very beginning, Congressional Republicans like Rep. Jen Kiggans opposed this legislation that will save countless lives,” said Emily Yeatts, Campaign Director for Affordable Virginia. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, Medicare can now rein in soaring drug prices and ensure seniors and people with disabilities can access essential, life saving medication without going broke. It's a shame that Rep. Kiggans would rather stand with Big Pharma over seniors in her district and oppose this historic legislation. We call on Rep. Kiggans to keep her promise to stand with working families and seniors by supporting legislation that lowers costs, protects Medicare and Social Security, and ensures veterans have access to the services and resources they need.”
“Rep. Jen Kiggans and I have healthcare backgrounds, so it is deeply troubling that she so strongly opposed this legislation that is literally saving lives,” said Linda Bennington, a retired nurse in Virginia Beach. “Any treatment can only be as effective as our patients’ ability to access it, especially for patients who suffer from multiple, complex chronic conditions. I cannot understand how anyone could ever consider limiting access to lifesaving care, much less a health care provider like Jen Kiggans. We need Rep. Kiggans to change course and support working families and seniors.”
Other key measures of the Inflation Reduction Act Include include:
$35 cap per month on each covered insulin product
Certain recommended preventive adult vaccines are free for people with Medicare prescription drug coverage
Starting January 1, no one with Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay more than $2,000 in 2025 for their drugs
In Virginia, because of 2024 policies limiting Part D out-of-pocket costs, there is over $83 million in expected savings for 314,000 Medicare Part D enrollees
In Virginia, there is an average of $510 savings per year for over 36,000 Medicare enrollees who use insulin.
