United States – President Biden and Vice President Harris took a victory Thursday after unveiling the first effects of Medicare’s fresh authority to negotiate drug prices.
During a White House event staged a day after Biden met House Democrats, the president and vice president claimed that their administration’s measures will save billions on 10 of the most costly prescription drugs as has been announced by the White House, as reported by The Hills.
A Long-Awaited Win Against Big Pharma
“For years, Big Pharma blocked Medicare for negotiating lower drug prices,” Biden said at the event in Maryland. “This time, we finally beat Big Pharma. And, I might add, with no help from Republicans. Not a single Republican voted for this bill, period.”
Biden claimed he has been campaigning for the medicare drug price negotiation for the entire Congress term since 1973.
This was the moment the president was waiting for a long time, he said.
A Pillar of Economic Reform
The negotiation program was created out of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act which has been one of the critical pillars in the White House’s economic agenda, which is the reduction of the costs faced by average citizens.
He mentioned the drug industry’s stance against the provision and suggested, throughout his remaining years in the White House, doing more to extend the savings to everyone.
“Kamala and I are going to keep fighting to lower the prescription drug costs for everyone, not just seniors. It’s a fight that we have to continue,” Biden said. “But guess what? Surprise, surprise, Big Pharma doesn’t want this to happen at all.”
In this way, Harris constantly attributed the success to the president while at the same time, trying to sell the narrative that she was the one who brought negotiations home.
Harris Takes the Spotlight as a Key Player
“My entire career, I have worked to hold bad actors accountable and lower the cost of prescription drugs,” Harris said. “Two years ago, as vice president, I was proud to cast the tie-breaking vote that sent the bill that gave Medicare the power to negotiate and let it get to the president’s desk.”
Continuing the Fight
Drug price negotiation is popular, and the White House has been attempting to own it, but Biden has not fully seized on the strategy to educate the public about his wins, as reported by The Hills.
The elevation of Harris as the vice president also provides the Democrats an opportunity to attempt it again.
“Few leaders in our nation have done more on so many issues, including to expand access to affordable health care, like Joe Biden,” Harris said. “And today, we take the next step. Thank you, Joe. Forward in our fight.”