BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont leaders in Washington are urging the Trump administration not to roll back efforts that make medications less expensive.
Senator Peter Welch joined other democrats, including from New York and New Hampshire, vowing to fight for drug price negotiations.
Before leaving office, Joe Biden announced 15 drugs selected for Medicare price negotiations. That includes diabetes, cancer, asthma, and heart disease medications.
In a speech at the capitol, Welch said they need to take action for everyone’s health beyond party lines.
“We have to stick up for the people that we represent—hardworking families in red states and blue states—to ensure that everyone can get the lifesaving medication they need,” said Senator Welch.
Welch said the Inflation Reduction Act helped lower prescription costs and after only 2 days in office, the Trump administration is trying to roll back those efforts.
Under the IRA, Medicare is given the authority to negotiate prices for up to 60 medications with the goal of making life-saving drugs more affordable.