AMWA was honored to be present for celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act on Tuesday, September 13, along with hundreds of supporters on the White House South Lawn.
Following performances by Grammy Award winner singer-songwriter James Taylor, there were speeches by Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Vice-President Kamala Harris, and President Joe Biden.
The $750 billion bill which was signed into law on August 16 has some important provisions for healthcare that will have far-reaching impact on patients:
- Extension of health insurance subsidies for another 3 years
- Empowering Medicare to negotiate drug prices
- Limiting out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries
- Providing support for Medicare beneficiaries
- Improving vaccine coverage under Medicare Part D and Medicaid
In addition, the bill provides the largest investment in climate change to date, another issue in which we have seen the growing detriment to health.
Last month, AMWA President, Dr. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber stated, “AMWA has long been an advocate of healthcare for all, and we are enthusiastic about the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act which includes funding for those in need. AMWA recognizes that the ability to provide medical care to our communities is essential for their continued wellbeing. As physicians we see first-hand the impact of pollutants on our patients, the difficulty of getting prescriptions filled, and the devastating impact of chronic disease on families. AMWA applauds the actions that have brought the Inflation Reduction Act into reality.”
We are grateful for the work of Congress and the Biden-Harris administration to improve the health of our country.