Bipartisan plan would cut drug costs for seniors, poor

WASHINGTON — Two senior senators — a Republican and a Democrat — unveiled compromise legislation Tuesday to reduce prescription drug costs for millions of Medicare recipients while saving money for federal and state health care programs serving seniors and low-income people.

Iowa Republican Charles Grassley and Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden said the bill would for the first time limit drug copays for people with Medicare’s “Part D” prescription plan by capping patients’ out-ofpocket costs at $3,100 a year starting in 2022. They’re hoping to have it ready soon for votes on the Senate floor.

The legislation would also require drugmakers to pay a penalty to Medicare if the cost of their medications rises faster than inflation. Drugs purchased through a pharmacy as well as those administered in doctors’ offices would be covered by the new inflation rebates.

Political compromises over health care are rare these days. The bill reflects efforts by lawmakers of both parties to move beyond the rancorous debates over the Obamaera Affordable Care Act and focus on ways to lower costs for people with health insurance. Separate legislation to address “surprise medical bills” has already cleared the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee.

The senators said preliminary estimates from the Congressional Budget Office show the Medicare program would save $85 billion over 10 years while seniors would save $27 billion in out-of-pocket costs over the same period and $5 billion from slightly lower premiums. The government would save $15 billion from projected Medicaid costs.

“Pharmaceutical companies play a vital role in creating new and innovative medicines that save and improve the quality of millions of American lives, but that doesn’t help Americans who can’t afford them,” Grassley and Wyden said in a joint statement. “This legislation shows that no industry is above accountability.”