President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris recently highlighted their efforts to reduce prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries in their first joint appearance post-Biden’s decision not to seek re-election. The event, initially intended as a policy discussion, took on the spirited atmosphere of a campaign rally.
Biden and Harris shared news of agreements to lower drug expenses for the first set of ten medications identified under a Medicare price negotiation initiative. These medications include treatments for various conditions like diabetes, blood clots, heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and blood cancers.
Harris expressed satisfaction at how they have tackled the longstanding issue of Medicare’s inability to negotiate lower drug prices. She emphasized the positive impact this change will have on seniors, who had long borne the burden of high medication costs.
Although the function was officially labeled as a White House policy engagement, it carried evident political undertones. Biden wasted no time delving into the political aspects, praising his partnership with Harris and hinting at her potential as a future president.
Harris reciprocated the admiration, lavishing praise on Biden and the progress he has brought about. She acknowledged the strong support in the room for the president, attributing it to numerous reasons.
The scene played out against a complex political backdrop for the Democratic duo. Biden aims to solidify his presidential legacy while also boosting Harris’s profile, as she navigates promoting her candidacy while showing respect for Biden. The audience’s preferences were evident, with cheers erupting for Harris and many attendees leaving during Biden’s speech.
Among the speakers was Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who teased the crowd with the prospect of hearing from both the 46th and 47th presidents of the United States. The enthusiasm in the packed community college venue underscored the unique energy surrounding the event.
Biden explained that he has been advocating for Medicare to be able to negotiate drug prices since 1973, his first year in the Senate. He emphasized that if Republicans were to win the White House, they would reverse the progress made by his administration.
He proudly declared, “We have successfully stood up to Big Pharma, and it’s worth noting that we did so without a single Republican vote in Congress.”
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022 with Harris breaking the tie in the Senate, granted the secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies for Medicare for the first time. The administration announced that this initiative has already saved around $6 billion.
During her campaign, Harris has been focusing on a positive message of creating a brighter future, arguing that Trump and the Republicans have regressive intentions for America.
Her critics, particularly Trump himself, accuse her of relying on partisan language and a feel-good campaign strategy without providing specifics on her presidential plans. Harris has avoided formal press interviews or news conferences, opting for off-the-record discussions and brief exchanges with reporters.
Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio), Trump’s running mate, highlighted the contrast between their campaign and Harris’s by emphasizing their detailed policies and plans during an event in Pittsburgh. Harris aimed to address these criticisms during the event by discussing the outcomes of a significant administration policy and is expected to unveil her proposals on the economy the following day.
However, presenting detailed policy proposals comes with its challenges. Critics, journalists, and allies will scrutinize the details for negative impacts, unintended consequences, and inconsistencies with Harris’s previous positions. Harris will need to defend her policies, including during a debate with Trump scheduled for September 10.
In a preview of the upcoming political debate, Trump hastily organized a press conference at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J., shortly after the Biden and Harris event. He criticized some of Harris’s proposals as “communist price controls” that would harm the economy.
In his statement, he mentioned that the idea of price controls was being pushed, focusing on negative economic trends following Biden’s inauguration, particularly inflation. He expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of such controls, warning about potential consequences like food shortages and heightened inflation.
The Democrats view reducing drug prices as a key policy objective that could resonate well with voters nationwide. However, the challenge lies in educating the public about this issue, as the impact of these price reductions may not be felt immediately.
Efforts to lower drug costs in the Medicare program have been ongoing for over three decades. Figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders have championed this cause, despite strong opposition from the well-funded pharmaceutical industry, which argues that price reductions could hinder innovation.
The Biden administration announced plans to renegotiate drug prices, resulting in significant savings for Medicare beneficiaries by 2023. Although these changes are hailed as a monumental achievement in healthcare legislation, they will not come into effect until 2026, posing a communication challenge for the administration.
Negotiations for certain drugs have led to more than a 50 percent reduction in prices, potentially saving Medicare beneficiaries billions of dollars collectively. This move is expected to have a substantial impact on the overall spending of the Medicare prescription drug program.
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, overseeing Medicare and Medicaid Services, estimated that enrollees could save $1.5 billion once the new prices are implemented in 2026. She emphasized the critical role this cost reduction could have in improving the quality of life for many individuals.
Future plans by Medicare involve targeting additional drugs for negotiation in the coming years, aiming to expand the scope of cost-saving initiatives.
During Thursday’s event, Democrats seized the opportunity to utilize the presidential platform and the national campaign spotlight to bring attention to the issue. Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have planned a bus tour in western Pennsylvania followed by a rally in Milwaukee, leading up to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
There will be no more collaborative campaigning with Joe Biden. This decision was influenced by the president’s frustration over being sidelined and the realization that Kamala Harris is more popular on her own. Biden, who had been campaigning extensively to secure a second term, has significantly reduced his public appearances since stepping aside. It remains uncertain how actively he will campaign for Harris and how effective his endorsement will be.
The campaign announced that Biden would join Harris in campaigning in Pennsylvania alongside Governor Josh Shapiro at some point, but he would not participate in Harris’s bus tour prior to the convention.
At the convention, the president is scheduled to speak on Monday night, while Harris is set to deliver her acceptance speech on the final night of the event. However, the two will not share the stage together.
