Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester voted to pass H.R.3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which will help bring down the cost of prescription drugs and level the playing field for American patients who are paying more for their medicines than patients in other countries. This bill gives Medicare the power to negotiate directly with drug companies, and the lower prices negotiated by Medicare will be transparent so that private insurance companies can make the same prices available to their consumers. It also creates a new $2000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries.

“Constituents in Delaware are facing skyrocketing prescription drug prices, forcing many to choose between their medications and putting food on the table or meeting other basic needs,” said Blunt Rochester, a member of the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee. “I’m pleased that the bill invests the money it saves into expanding Medicare’s benefits to include dental, vision, and hearing; assisting innovation in the search for new cures and treatments; and helping combat the opioid crisis. I am also pleased that the bill includes the expansion of the Medicare Savings Program, an effort I was proud to lead with my colleagues, Reps. Andy Kim and Dwight Evans. I urge the Senate to take up and pass H.R.3, and send it to the President’s desk for his signature.” 

In Delaware, there are 149,396 people enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan and 672,591 people enrolled in private health insurance – all of whom stand to benefit from H.R.3. For example, those living with cancer, arthritis, asthma, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis are expected to experience significant savings as a result of H.R.3:

• Patients living with breast cancer : In 2019, an estimated 930 women in Delaware will be diagnosed with breast cancer. H.R.3 can lower the average total cost of the breast cancer medication Ibrance by 65%.
• Patients living with leukemia : In 2019, an estimated 210 people in Delaware will be diagnosed with leukemia. H.R.3 can lower the average total cost of the leukemia medication Tasigna by 71%.
• Patients living with prostate cancer : In 2019, an estimated 700 people in Delaware will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. H.R.3 can lower the average total cost of the prostate cancer medication Zytiga by 66%.
• Patients with arthritis : 24.6% of Delawareans have arthritis, and H.R.3 can lower their total costs on most arthritis drugs from about $40,000 to $10,000 per year.
• Patients with asthma : About 10.6% of Delawareans live with asthma, and H.R.3 can lower their total costs on most asthma drugs from about $1,400 to $270 per year.
• Patients with HIV/AIDS : In 2015, 124 Delawareans were diagnosed with HIV, and H.R.3 can lower their total costs on most HIV drugs from about $15,000 to $6,000 per year.
• Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) : One million people are living with MS in the United States, and H.R.3 can lower their total costs on most MS drugs from about $40,000 to $13,000 per year.

In addition to lowering prescription drug prices, H.R.3 also reinvests savings into expanding Medicare coverage for dental, vision, and hearing services for constituents in Delaware:

About 98% of beneficiaries or 198,100 people stand to gain from adding a dental benefit.

About 93% of beneficiaries or 185,600 people stand to gain from adding a vision benefit.

About 91% of beneficiaries or 181,900 people stand to gain from adding a hearing benefit.

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