Senate parliamentarian gives green light to most of Democrats' drug pricing plan

[lapucelle]

The Senate parliamentarian has signed off on key climate and health care provisions in the Democrats' major spending bill.

The rulings from Elizabeth MacDonough, the chamber's non-partisan rule keeper, come before an expected vote Saturday afternoon to begin debate on the $739 billion climate, health care and tax package titled the "Inflation Reduction Act."

Democrats are using a fast-track process known as reconciliation to pass the bill through a simple majority vote. The Senate parliamentarian is responsible for issuing opinions on whether provisions meet conditions of the budget reconciliation rules.

snip================================================================

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also announced Saturday that the parliamentarian signed off on most of the drug pricing provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act except for one prescription cost-reducing program Democrats wanted to include.

"Democrats have received extremely good news: for the first time, Medicare will finally be allowed to negotiate prescription drug prices, seniors will have free vaccines and their costs capped, and much more. This is a major victory for the American people," Schumer said in a statement.

The legislation will allow the federal health secretary to directly negotiate the prices of certain expensive drugs for Medicare starting in 2026. It would also cap out-of-pocket costs for those who use Medicare drug plans at $2,000.

snip=====================================================

"While there was one unfortunate ruling in that the inflation rebate is more limited in scope, the overall program remains intact and we are one step closer to finally taking on Big Pharma and lowering Rx drug prices for millions of Americans," Schumer said.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-parliamentarian-green-light-democrats-drug-pricing-plan/story?id=88034107

[Wounded Bear]

1. I like this headline better than the other one...

the one that says 'Parliamentarian kills key part of..."

Perception is reality.

[lapucelle]

3. Who benfits from clickbait headlines that push negative messaging on the Inflation Reduction Act?

Cui bono?

Not Democrats.

[secondwind]

2. K&R!!!!!

[AZSkiffyGeek]

4. So this article says that penalties for private insurers

Are all that are effected. Other threads say Medicare is as well. Another says that insulin is affected.
Which is correct?

[lapucelle]

5. ABC News is a reliable source.

Schumer's office announced that it has released the text of the revised bill, but I don't think it's on line yet.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

7. That's my thinking nt

[yorkster]

6. Thanks. Am especially concerned re insulin question.

$35.00 a month cap on insulin is hugely important.

Feels like we need a wrap up of parliamentarian's final decision and next step from Shumer.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

8. The insulin article seemed pretty thin on facts

And heavy on speculation. We’ll see…

[lapucelle]

10. There's mixed reporting and anonymous sourcing.

[airplaneman]

11. The legislation will allow the federal health secretary to directly negotiate the prices of certain

expensive drugs for Medicare starting in 2026.

As I have heard "certain" means only 10 drugs by 2026 expanding to 25 drugs by 2029.
A start but not a solution. We will see I guess. I hope this is better than the earlier talk I have heard about.
-Airplane

[lapucelle]

12. Without the bill, when would Medicare be allowed to start negotiating?

Hint: The correct answer is "never".