Statement attributable to:
Darilyn V. Moyer, MD, MACP, FRCP, FIDSA, FAMWA, FEFIM
EVP and CEO, American College of Physicians
WASHINGTON August 29, 2023 – The American College of Physicians (ACP) is encouraged by the news released by the White House today that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has identified the first round of prescription medications for price negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers under Medicare Part D. I was glad to be at the White House this afternoon to learn more about how they are working to lower health care costs for patients in the United States and help patients avoid rationing prescription drugs or making other untenable decisions about their care based on financial constraints. The Inflation Reduction Act, which makes it possible for Medicare to begin negotiating the price of prescription drugs, also helps to lower costs for Medicare beneficiaries by limiting the cost of insulin and setting a new out-of-pocket max for drug costs.
ACP is particularly glad that the list of prescription drugs that were selected includes so many drugs for complex chronic conditions that internal medicine physicians treat. Any treatment can only be as effective as our patients’ ability to access it. Prescription drug costs can be a significant barrier especially for our patients who suffer from multiple, complex chronic conditions. We call on pharmaceutical manufacturers to engage with Medicare in negotiating prices. Our nation’s older adults deserve to be able to access all of the health care services they need, including prescription medications.
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About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 161,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Contact: Jacquelyn Blaser, (202) 261-4572, jblaser@acponline.org