Medicare Premium Increase

Floor Speech

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Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, on November 12, Medicare announced the largest part B premium increase in the history of the Medicare program, 14 percent. This could not come at a worse time in terms of, again, the cost of living that many seniors are facing.

Looking closely at that decision, one of the driving factors was the projected cost of the drug Aduhelm, which was priced at $56,000 per year for Alzheimer's patients who were, again, very excited about the possibility of getting the benefit of that drug. But the cost of that drug was one of the big driving forces for a 14 percent rate increase.

On December 20, Biogen, the manufacturer, cut the cost of that drug from $56,000 to $28,000. About 2 weeks ago, Secretary Becerra correctly instructed the actuaries of Medicare to go back and try and recalculate the Medicare part B premium to see if there was a way to get some relief for seniors from that 14 percent rate increase.

Today, 31 Members of the House Democratic Caucus are sending a letter to Secretary Becerra again applauding his decision and strongly advocating that Medicare go back in and recalculate that rate increase, which will provide tremendous assistance for seniors at exactly the time that they need it.

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