Washington, DC – The National Health Law Program welcomes the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and is eager to see the transformative law enacted. This bill promises to lower prescription drug costs, make health insurance more affordable for individuals enrolled in marketplaces, ensure that the rich pay their fair share in taxes, and help us address the existential crisis of global climate change.
“For over 50 years, the National Health Law Program has fought to protect and expand access to health care for low-income people. As such, we are keenly aware that low-income communities, particularly communities of color, are disproportionately impacted by climate change and environmental degradation,” said Elizabeth G. Taylor, Executive Director of the National Health Law Program. “Systemic inequities exacerbate the impact of rising temperatures and lead to worse health outcomes for millions of people. While the Inflation Reduction Act isn’t a panacea, it puts the U.S. on the right path for meeting our climate goals and making health care more affordable. Our vision is a future where all individuals and communities can thrive.”
“This was a hard-fought compromise, and while it does not include everything that health care advocates hoped for, the Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in health care in almost a decade,” said Mara Youdelman, Managing Attorney of NHeLP’s DC office. “Empowering Medicare to negotiate costly prescription drugs will help older adults and people with disabilities access life-saving prescriptions. This is a significant win and will greatly reduce the financial barriers many people experience when trying to get their medication. The bill also extends essential tax credits to help people afford health insurance purchased through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. These provisions will help millions of people access the care they need. We are also hopeful that this bill provides the momentum for Congress to tackle other pressing health care issues in the coming months. We remain steadfast in our belief that closing the Medicaid coverage gap, increasing funding for Medicaid Home and Community-based services, making CHIP permanent, and addressing funding for the territories are essential to addressing long standing health care inequities.”
