CHARLOTTE, N.C. — United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, and congress members Alma Adams and Jeff Jackson were in Charlotte Friday touting the White House's inflation reduction act.
They held a news conference at Doc’s Pharmacy Friday morning on what the White House says is how millions of Americans will see lower health care costs because of the prescription drug law.
The law, passed last year, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the deciding vote, allows the HHS to negotiate better prices for prescription drugs choosing 10 of 50 of the highest-priced drugs currently on the market.
At the time Democrats passed the bill they said it was a major step in making healthcare more affordable. Republicans, meanwhile, are unified in opposition. They are warning about spending against the current economic backdrop.
"Joe Biden has pushed us and these plans are pushing us into a recession," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said.
National and state leaders say this new law is a major step in making health care more affordable so families don’t have to sacrifice getting the medication they need because it is too expensive.
"I call it the prescription lowering prices act because that is what it's doing," said Beccera "It is lowering the price of prescription medication for billions of people like Charlene."
For Charlene Wilson, that means being able to pay for insulin when she needs it. The max cost now at $35 for a month’s supply.
"I was paying $390 for a 90-day supply but being with Doc's pharmacy for the past 7 years I paid $103," Wilson explained. "Now this year, I'm paying $35 for a month or 105 for three months. It's really good for me."
"No one wants to see her skip a day of medication, but sometimes people have to do that to pay their rent or to put food on the table," said Beccera.
Lowering medication costs is a way to prevent future and more costly medical problems.
“If you don’t have access to the medication what happens is their diabetes becomes more complicated. They end up having all types of complications and that is what we are trying to avoid," said Dr. Raynard Washington, Public Health Director for Mecklenburg County.
He adds this is a major step in the right direction to meet the needs of the community.
Dr. Michael Ilodigwe, Owner of Doc’s pharmacy said he has seen firsthand the challenges some of his clients face. So the pharmacy offers free prescription medication delivery and even provides rides to doctor appointments for those who need it.
Under the new law, preventative vaccines are also covered and free for people with Medicare.
The law will also make it easier for health leaders to negotiate for the best prices when it comes to medication, to help keep prescription drugs even lower.
Contact Richard DeVayne at rdevayne@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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