JustCare

US House passes Build Back Better Act

Written by

Diane Archer

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Last week, the US House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, legislation designed to improve the lives of tens of millions of Americans. The Senate still needs to pass the bill before President Biden can sign it into law. In all likelihood, the Senate will water it down some. But, as it stands, here’s what it will do to reduce the cost of health care for people with Medicare and all Americans:

  1. It strengthens Medicaid to cover more home and community-based services. Millions of people with Medicare who also have Medicaid can benefit from this provision. Medicare only covers home care in limited situations, for people who need skilled nursing or therapy services on an intermittent basis.
  2. It adds a hearing benefit to Medicare. If passed, Medicare would cover audiology services and hearing aids.
  3. It allows Medicare to negotiate the price of some popular high-cost prescription drugs that have been on the market for at least nine years. Over time, Medicare would negotiate the price of up to 60 prescription drugs.
  4. It caps out-of-pocket costs in Medicare Part D, outpatient prescription drug coverage, at $2,000 a year.
  5. It caps the coinsurance cost of insulin for people with Medicare and people with private insurance at $35 a month.
  6. It limits the amount pharmaceutical companies can raise prices on their drugs from one year to the next to no more than the rate of inflation.
  7. It helps low-income people in the 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid access health insurance coverage through their state health insurance exchanges at low or minimal cost.

Here’s more from Just Care:

Comments

2 responses to “US House passes Build Back Better Act”

  1. BC Shelby Avatar
    BC Shelby

    …as to the senate covering our backs neither side seems to be interested in that. In the House there is a committee, three members of which are on the Pharma dole. In the Senate there are two who have interest in allowing pharma to continue gouging us one who has Pharma and the “Wealthcare” industry in her campaign funding corner and the the other with a daughter who is a CEO of a company that has no problem sticking it to those in need.

    The ability for Medicare to negotiate on drug prices are for a small handful of medications and so not go into effect for a couple years. The expansion of Medicare to also cover dental, and vision , two services critical to aging seniors were scrapped (only hearing made it through). Meanwhile the Medicare premium is seeing it’s highest increase ever because, you guessed it, overpriced medications particularly one for Alzheimer’s, the annual regimen priced at 56,000$.

    For many who only have Social Security as their sole source of income and barely living above the poverty line (just enough to not qualify for state supplemental programmes) , 2,000$ out of pocket is devastating and could throw people into bankruptcy.

    The measure falls woefully short of what many need and may even fall shorter should Sens. Manchin and Sinema decide to gut more out of it so it meets their approval.

    Sad how we went from the prospect of single payer and expansion of coverage to table scraps while both parties have no trouble agreeing on more money for the War Department along with benefits for their wealthy and corporate donors. We no longer have even adequate representation as so many on Capital hill are more concerned about their own and the party’ self interests, their careers and those who keep them in office (and on the last one i am not referring to the voters).

    Reply
    1. Steven Katz Avatar
      Steven Katz

      I agree 100%. Like the War Dept., this monstrous health system is further evidence of this government’s (both of the corporate-owned parties in the duopoly) racketeering for the benefit of the financial class.

      Reply

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