Tag Archives for Affordable Care Act

Veteran Lawmaker Steny Hoyer Bids Farewell After 45 Years in Congress

 Published in RINewsToday on January 12, 2026

 According to Ballotpedia’s tracker of incumbents not seeking re-election in 2026, 20 House lawmakers are retiring at the end of this Congress, 17 of whom are age 50 or older. Last week, Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), a long-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced his retirement and now joins Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)—all of whom served in House leadership and have announced their decisions not to seek another term—in departing Capitol Hill.

On Jan. 8th Hoyer addressed the House chamber announcing to his colleagues of his plans to retire. Choking up at times during his remarks, he reflected on his 45 years of serving his constituents and expressed concern about the direction of the House.

He began his remarks by looking back at a pivotal moment in 1959 when he attended University of Maryland at College Park, that would push him into public service —hearing John F. Kennedy speak at a spring convocation.  A week later after Kennedy’s speech the young college student would change his major from business to political science.  Looking back, Hoyer noted that this two hour encounter led to a 60-year career in public service.

Hoyer, who has held top Democratic leadership positions including House Majority Leader, reflected on his nearly 45 years in the House, contrasting the collegial, bipartisan atmosphere when he first arrived in 1981, under the leaders of Rep. Tip O’Neill (D-MA) and Rep. Bob Michael (R-IL)  with the current state of divisiveness and partisan bickering.

The Maryland Congressman, representing Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District, expressed concern that the House was failing to meet its constitutional responsibilities that the first article of the Constitution demands and warned that the nation was heading towards “smallness” and “pettiness.” He concluded by calling on his colleagues to work together to pass appropriation bills in a bipartisan, timely fashion to keep the government open, thanking his family and colleagues, and reaffirming his gratitude for his long, productive career.

Taking a Look at Aging and Health Care Issues   

While serving as House Majority Leader, Hoyer played a key role in the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by overseeing debates, managing Democratic floor strategy and building public support. The ACA expanded access to affordable health insurance, prohibited denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions, allowed young adults to stay on parents’ plans to age 26, and greatly expanded preventive services coverage.

Hoyer would steer the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) to overwhelming final approval in the lower chamber by negotiating legislative language in the bill and building bipartisan consensus.  This landmark legislation, signed into law on July 26, 1990 by Republican President George H.W. Bush, prohibited discrimination based on disability and greatly expanded accessibility in employment, public service, transportation, and places of public accommodation for millions of disabled Americans.

Eighteen years later, he would lead the House efforts to pass the ADA Amendments Act, which strengthened and clarified the original law’s protections to ensure that it would be broadly as intended, benefiting millions of Americans with disabilities.

The long-time Congressman has been a strong defender of Social Security and Medicare, tirelessly opposing privatization and advocating long-term solvency to ensure benefits for current and future retirees. He supported funding and modernization efforts that improve Medicare efficiency and access to providers for seniors.

Hoyer also helped to bring major health care-related legislation to the House floor during the pandemic.  He successfully pushed for passage The American Rescue Plan, that would fund COVID-19 vaccines and pandemic health responses and that now has lowered prescription drug costs of some medications.

Hoyer also hosted events and roundtables highlighting mental health care investments (like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), reflecting ongoing engagement with health challenges affecting adults and seniors.

Kudos from Legislative Colleagues and Friends

Former Rhode Island Congressman James Langevin, now Distinguished Chair of Rhode Island College’s Institute for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies, remembers working alongside Steny Hoyer in Congress. “He was a good friend and respected colleague, but my relationship with him actually began before I was even sworn in,” he says. “He was an original author of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which opened doors for people with disabilities and empowered me to run for office.”

“When I was elected, Steny worked tirelessly to ensure I had the resources and accommodations I needed to transition to Washington and succeed as the first quadriplegic member of Congress. For Steny, accessibility was personal. I always knew that whatever I needed, Steny would make it happen. His departure from the House is a great loss for the institution, but I wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement,” adds Langevin.

Rhode Island’s junior Congressman Gabe Amo also praised Hoyer’s service. “Steny Hoyer has been a steadfast champion of Marylanders and the American people, serving our country and Congress with integrity and conviction,” says Amo. “He was one of the first calls I received after I won the 2023 special election, and he welcomed me with open arms when I arrived in Congress.”

Amo considered Hoyer a trusted mentor who helped guide him as a newly elected member. “He always celebrated the wins we secured for Rhode Island—especially the infrastructure funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” he notes.

According to Amo, Hoyer frequently mentioned his Rhode Island ties, sharing fond memories of his law school classmate, former Warwick Mayor Joe Walsh, and his long-time friend Congressman Langevin. “Steny is a stalwart public servant, and his impact will be felt for generations to come. He will be deeply missed in the halls of Congress,” Amo says.

Rep. Seth Magaziner offered similar praise. “Steny Hoyer is not only a congressional legend with many legislative accomplishments, he is a living reminder that politics does not have to be partisan and uncivil. He is well respected on both sides of the aisle, and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve with him,” says Magaziner.

Robert “Bob” Blancato, President of Matzo, Blancato and Associates who served as former Staff Director of the House Aging Committees’ Subcommittee on Human Services, calls Hoyer one of the strongest Democratic leaders of the past 45 years. “During his time as Majority Leader, he stewarded landmark legislation—such as the Affordable Care Act—through the House and later its final passage through Congress,” he notes.

“As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, he helped ensure aging programs received priority funding even in difficult times. He was a gentleman legislator, and his level of service in Congress will be hard to duplicate,” says Blancato.

Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and former staff director of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, views Hoyer as a committed advocate for older Americans. “Steny has always been very accessible to the seniors’ advocacy community. He kept an open mind on the issues we care about. I have known him a very long time and personally liked him. He will be missed.”

Looking back, when President George W. Bush declared his intention to privatize Social Security after his re-election in 2004, Steny brought advocates together for regular strategy sessions to protect the program, says Richtman. “He united the advocacy community and helped orchestrate the defeat of Bush’s privatization plan. That’s a prime example of the leadership Steny provided,” he says.

Like Richtman, Robert Weiner, former Staff Director of the U.S. House Select Committee on Aging, recognized Hoyer’s effort to stop the privatization of Social Security — and helped in the regaining of the House majority as a result.  “During his time in Democratic House leadership, he never lost a bill he scheduled or brought to the floor for a vote,” says Weiner.

Weiner, who served with Hoyer as national officer in Young Democrats in the 70’s, remembers  Hoyer chairing weekly meetings with committee members and issue leaders to gauge party sentiments and anticipate votes, shaping House agendas. “At his recent birthday “Bull Roast” he invited me to, Hoyer discussed “bringing bills to the floor,” setting calendars, and securing votes. His foresight — and passionate House floor speeches — consistently assured favorable results.

The end of a 60-year career in public service with a dedication to senior friendly issues will keep his memory strong in Congress.

Medicare Drug Savings Eclipsed by Part B Premiums, COLA Challenges and ACA’s Rising Costs

Published in RINewsToday on January 5, 2026

The official arrival of the New Year was marked by millions of viewers channel surfing between ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN, eager to watch the ball drop in Times Square and ring in 2026. The iconic New York City ball—12,000 pounds and adorned with 5,280 Waterford Crystal discs and LED lights—descended a 139-foot flagpole atop One Times Square. In just 60 seconds, it reached the bottom at midnight on New Year’s Eve, signaling the beginning of 2026.

Just two days before January 1—when Medicare-negotiated prices for 10 prescription drugs take effect—AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer, Nancy LeaMond, shared good news. As the clock struck midnight, she announced that older Americans would see lower prices for the first 10 Medicare-negotiated drugs, which would take effect on January 1, 2026. AARP quickly issued a statement, celebrating the first-ever Medicare-negotiated drug prices and estimating a whopping 50% reduction in out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries.

“For millions of older Americans managing chronic conditions, prescription drugs are not optional—they are a lifeline. But medicine doesn’t work if people can’t afford it,” said LeaMond in a Dec. 29 statement. She emphasized that AARP has been at the forefront of advocating for drug pricing reforms since 2022. The nation’s largest aging advocacy group, representing nearly 38 million members, shared their stories, conducted national research on drug costs, and urged lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to support legislative efforts to lower drug costs.

According to LeaMond, this advocacy has delivered significant progress. On January 1, negotiated prices will take effect for the first time, marking a major milestone for both patients and taxpayers. “Older Americans will see real results and billions in savings as the first Medicare-negotiated prices take effect,” she stated, pledging that “AARP won’t stop fighting to lower drug prices until every American can get the medications they need at a price they can afford.”

“These drugs are used by nearly 9 million Medicare beneficiaries and treat conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and cancer,” she noted.

While Medicare beneficiaries are set to see substantial savings, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) anticipates that the Medicare drug price negotiation program will save billions. CMS, a federal agency providing health coverage to over 160 million people through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Marketplace, expects the program to save enrollees roughly $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs in 2026 while saving the Medicare program $6 billion per year.  The negotiated prices are a minimum of 38% off the 2023 list price.

On the Other Hand

Though Medicare beneficiaries will benefit from lower out-of-pocket costs on 10 Medicare-negotiated drugs in the new year, the 2026 Social Security COLAs will barely cover Medicare Part B premiums and rising inflation.  Meanwhile, older Americans who are not eligible for Medicare coverage will face soaring health insurance premiums due to the Senate’s failure to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Tax Credits.

Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, stressed the importance of ACA marketplace coverage for older adults, who often struggle to find affordable health insurance. “It’s not only cruel to let their premiums skyrocket; it costs everyone in the long run,” observes Richtman. “Older patients without insurance will be forced to use emergency rooms for care, which drives up costs for all healthcare consumers,” he says in a statement released on Dec. 11, 2026.

“They’ll also arrive at Medicare sicker or more disabled, which not only costs taxpayers more but raises premiums for all older Americans on Medicare,” warns Richtman.

Richtman pointed out that 40% of ACA enrollees are between the ages of 45 and 64. Without the extended tax credits, many of these individuals—including farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners—will face unaffordable premium increases and may be forced to drop or downgrade their health care coverage. “Extending these tax credits to prevent premium hikes would have made simple common sense,” Richtman argued. “Why would Senators vote to push people off health insurance instead of widening the safety net when the ACA is so clearly beneficial, especially for older, vulnerable enrollees?,” he asked.

Additionally, this year’s premium increase for the standard Medicare Part B program, while not as high as originally projected, will still affect beneficiaries, too. They will face an increase of nearly $18 per month, marking roughly a 10% hike in 2026. In a statement on Nov. 17, 2025, Richtman said that this rise basically cancels out one-third of the average beneficiary’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026.

The standard Part B premium for 2026 will be $ 202.90 a month, which is $17.90 more than last year’s $ 186.  The average COLA will be $ 56 a month in 2026. After accounting for the $18 Part B premium increase, the average Social Security beneficiary will be left with an effective monthly increase of only $36 next year, notes Richtman.

Richtman pointed out that the 2.8% COLA for 2026, announced in October, was already modest before the Medicare premium hike. “In this economy, an extra $36 per month will provide only marginal relief for Social Security beneficiaries,” he said, stressing that seniors with below-average benefits will see even less of a benefit increase once Medicare Part B premiums are deducted.

“Some in lower-income brackets may experience an effective COLA of zero,” predicts Richtman.

A Final Note…

Yes, Medicare beneficiaries will see a decrease in Medicare-negotiated prices for 10 prescription drugs that took effect last week.  But, with inflation rising and older adults struggling to afford basic needs such as food, rent, utilities, and healthcare costs, aging advocates urge Congress to  take action to mitigate the negative impacts of HR 1, the 2025 budget reconciliation bill, on the Medicare drug price negotiation program.  It’s also crucial that Social Security COLAs accurately reflect the out-of-pocket expenses faced by beneficiaries, they say.

“Unfortunately, the 2025 budget reconciliation bill—HR 1—further limits the drugs that can be negotiated under the IRA’s negotiation program, reducing its effectiveness,” warns Julie Carter of the Medicare Rights Center in an October 9, 2025, blog post for Medicare Watch. “KFF, an independent health policy and research organization, estimates that this change will increase Medicare spending by at least $5 billion. As always, increases in Medicare spending lead to higher out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries,” she says.

“At Medicare Rights, we strongly oppose efforts to scale back the IRA’s negotiation framework. We believe more drugs should be subject to negotiation, not fewer. We also advocate for expanding other cost-saving aspects of the law to reduce expenses for those covered by other forms of insurance,” Carter adds.

“Social Security COLAs are meant to offset the impact of inflation on beneficiaries. However, they are clearly insufficient for many seniors living on fixed incomes,” argues NCPSSM’s Richtman. He explains that this is why his organization has been pushing for an improved COLA formula—the CPI-E (Consumer Price Index for the Elderly). The CPI-E would more accurately reflect the inflationary effects on the goods and services seniors rely on, he says.

“We support legislation that would adopt the CPI-E for determining COLAs, but Congress has yet to take action. Adopting this formula would be a reasonable step toward expanding benefits and truly meeting the needs of 21st-century seniors,” Richtman concludes.

Medicare Enrolled will see Lower Costs on Select Drugs in 2026

Published in Blackstone Valley Call & Times on December 2, 2025

With Medicare Open Enrollment ending next week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that last year’s Medicare negotiations produced a net savings of 44%—about $12 billion—on 15 widely used prescription drugs that treat cancer and other serious chronic conditions.

The new Maximum Fair Prices (MFPs) for these 15 drugs will take effect on January 1, 2027. Combined with the 10 drugs already negotiated—whose MFPs take effect January 1, 2026—a total of 25 drugs will have negotiated lower prices. These medications, used to treat conditions such as cancer, diabetes, asthma, and cardiovascular and neurological disorders, represent some of the highest Medicare Part D spending.

The Beginning of Drug Price Negotiations

Three years ago, after President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022, CMS began developing the process for Medicare’s first-ever drug price negotiations. On March 15, 2023, the federal agency issued its initial program guidance and received more than 7,500 public comments from consumer groups, patient advocates, drug manufacturers, and pharmacies. Revised guidance followed on June 30, 2023.

On August 29, 2023, CMS released the first list of 10 high-cost drugs selected for negotiation—marking the first time in Medicare’s history that it could negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies.

Pharmaceutical industry groups and several companies attempted to block the law in court. In response, 70 organizations and 150,000 petition signers urged Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharma US, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to drop their lawsuits. Multiple organizations also filed amicus briefs supporting the law.

Three years in process, and with courts ultimately allowing the program to proceed, that first round of 10 drugs with negotiated prices will take effect in 2026.

CMS Drug Negotiations Added 15 Drugs

On January 17th, CMS announced it had selected 15 additional drugs for the second cycle of negotiations under Medicare Part D and on November 25th, it was announced that agreements had been reached on all of them. These medications are among the most costly and most commonly used by Medicare beneficiaries, treating conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and asthma. The new round of negotiations is expected to save Medicare billions and strengthen the program’s long-term sustainability.

“This year’s results stand in stark contrast to last year’s,” said CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, in announcing the second cycle of negotiations.  “Using the same process with a bolder direction, we have achieved substantially better outcomes for taxpayers and seniors in the Medicare Part D program — not the modest or even counterproductive ‘deals’ we saw before.”

“Whether through the Inflation Reduction Act or President Trump’s Most Favored Nation policy, this is what serious, fair, and disciplined negotiation looks like,” adds CMS Deputy Administrator and Medicare Director Chris Klomp. “I’m deeply proud of our team, who execute exceptionally well to bring affordability to the country in everything we do.”

Between January 1 and December 31, 2024, approximately 5.3 million Medicare Part D enrollees used one or more of these 15 drugs. Total gross Part D spending for them was $42.5 billion, representing about 15% of all Part D drug costs.

Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, praised the newly released negotiated prices, stating that they show what is possible when “policymakers put patients before corporate profits.” Wright emphasized that these reductions build on the work of establishing the Drug Price Negotiation Program, which aims to provide financial relief to older adults and people with disabilities.

Wright noted that the first and second rounds of negotiated drugs together account for about one-third of Medicare Part D spending, with price reductions ranging from 38% to 85%. In 2027, beneficiaries using these drugs are projected to save $685 million in out-of-pocket costs. He added that the savings support both individual beneficiaries and the long-term sustainability of the Medicare program.

Despite pharmaceutical companies’ continued attempts to limit the program—through lawsuits and legislative provisions such as those in H.R. 1—Wright said the negotiation program remains “the most effective tool currently available to lower drug prices.”

“The Medicare Negotiation Program changed the trajectory of drug pricing in the United States, helping to reduce Big Pharma’s monopoly pricing power, which dictated prices to Americans on Medicare for two decades,” said Merith Basey, executive director of Patients for Affordable Drugs in a statement. “This second round of negotiations — now under President Trump — marks another major milestone, delivering continued savings for patients and taxpayers,” he said.

“The lower negotiated prices are more than numbers on a page. For patients who’ve been forced to work multiple jobs, cut pills in half, or choose between filling a prescription and buying groceries, these lower prices will bring long-overdue relief, flexibility, and stability,” added Basey.

“The requirement that Medicare negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs continues to pay dividends for older Americans and taxpayers,” adds Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “The announcement of lower drug prices for 15 high-priced drugs is a win for more than 5 million seniors who take these drugs to treat asthma, diabetes, lung disease and other serious conditions, and will soon pay less for their medications,” he says.

“The 4.4 million members of the Alliance are pleased that the Trump Administration has followed the law, negotiated these prices, and defended this law in court,” Fiesta says, calling on Congress to increase the number of drugs subject to price negotiations.

While the White House along with aging groups praise the impact of IRA’s Medicare drug negotiation provisions, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) issued a statement calling it “flawed.”

“Whether it is the IRA or MFN, government price setting for medicines is the wrong policy for America. Price setting does nothing to rein in PBMs who decide which medicines are covered and what patients pay. In fact, many patients are facing additional coverage barriers and paying more out-of-pocket for medicines because of the IRA, warns Alex Schriver, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs.

“These flawed policies also threaten future medical innovation by siphoning $300 billion from biopharmaceutical research, undermining the American economy and our ability to compete globally,” states Schriver, noting that PhRMA members are stepping up to make medicines more affordable by enabling direct purchase at lower prices and investing in U.S. manufacturing and infrastructure.

Lower Drug Cost Legislation Introduced

Congressman John B. Larson (D-CT), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, praised the latest CMS announcement, estimating that both negotiation rounds will save older Americans more than $2 billion per year in out-of-pocket costs. Larson noted that families and seniors continue to struggle with rising prices, especially for prescription drugs.  The lawmaker pushed to enable Medicare to negotiate drug prices to lower drug costs by the enactment of IRA.

Last week, House Democrats introduced the Lower Drug Costs for American Families Act, aimed at closing loopholes in H.R. 1 and further reducing prescription drug prices. The bill (H.R. 6166), introduced November 20 by Ranking Members Frank Pallone Jr. (Energy and Commerce), Richard Neal (Ways and Means), and Bobby Scott (Education and Workforce), has been referred to all three committees.

Key provisions of the bill would:

  • Extend Medicare’s price negotiation authority to all Americans with private insurance—covering more than 164 million people with employer-sponsored plans and over 24 million enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans
  • Apply inflation-based rebate protections to private insurance markets, potentially saving $40 billion over 10 years
  • Increase the number of negotiated drugs from 20 to 50 per year
  • Extend the $2,000 annual out-of-pocket prescription drug cap to privately insured patients
  • Cap insulin costs at $35 per month for those with private insurance
  • Close the orphan-drug loophole that allows companies to avoid negotiation
  • Require consideration of international drug prices to ensure Americans do not pay three to five times more than patients in other countries

Continue the Momentum

According to CMS, the agency will announce the specifics on 15 drugs for the third round of Medicare price negotiations by February 1, 2026. This new round will include drugs paid under Medicare Part B for the first time and will begin with negotiated prices effective January 1, 2028. CMS has already released final guidance for the program and will also use this process to select drugs for renegotiation in previous cycles. IRA also establishes an ongoing process where more drugs will be selected for negotiation in subsequent years.

A Dec. 2024 AARP survey found that almost 3 in 5 adults age 50 and older expressed concern about their ability to afford prescriptions over the near future.  Respondents included both Medicare beneficiaries and younger persons. About 96 percent of the respondents call on the government to do more to lower pharmaceutical prices.

AARP noted that this survey was taken right before a new $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket drug expenses took effect in 2025.

With the announcement of lower drug costs that result from Medicare’s round 2 drug negotiations, there is an  opportunity to build on this momentum for real change. Lawmakers can legislate to put the public’s health above profit by giving consumers more power to negotiate, making competition stronger, and keeping patients from having to pay too much out of pocket.

It is now time for Congress to act.