Reese Bull: Ken Mitchell gets the importance of prescription-drug costs

I’m old, and I take a lot of pills.

I am pleased that, under the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare can negotiate prices for prescription drugs, and that out-of-pocket copays will be limited. More must be done.

Insurers and drug companies are ripping us off! When the insurer dropped one of my medications from its Part D formulary, my copay increased by over 600 percent. For other plans, copays ranged from 400 percent to 1200 percent of my previous level.

I found the lowest price at a local pharmacy which does not take insurance. Bypassing the Medicare system saved me the most money!

Drug makers will not willingly absorb revenue reductions from the out-of-pocket limit.  Patients will see steep increases in their premiums. We will see drugs dropped from formularies, and will have to cope more often with prior authorizations, quantity limits, and step therapies.

We need more than a limit on out-of-pocket drug expenditures. We need a comprehensive reform of the whole prescription drug and insurance marketplace. The “free market” has failed patients.

My congressman, Ben Cline of Virginia’s Sixth District, voted against the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. He does not represent the best interests of constituents.

I support Ken Mitchell, the Democratic candidate for Congress from the Sixth District.  I have spoken with Ken about this issue, and am certain that he will do a better job advocating for the needs of Medicare beneficiaries.

Reese Bull resides is Mount Solon.