On Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris made her first joint appearance with President Joe Biden since he stepped back from the race, focusing on a key achievement: reducing prescription drug prices. The two Democratic leaders praised their efforts to combat the rising costs driven by “Big Pharma.”
Harris expressed her concern for seniors, stating, “No senior should have to choose between filling their prescriptions and paying rent,” addressing a crowd in Maryland. While this appearance was officially a White House event, it felt more like a campaign rally, showcasing support from Biden for Harris as she prepares for her own run.
Harris opened the event by praising Biden’s leadership in expanding access to healthcare. She referred to working alongside him as an “eternal honor” and highlighted her efforts as California’s attorney general to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for deceptive practices.
Biden echoed her sentiments, declaring, “She’s going to make one hell of a president.” Together, they emphasized that lowering drug prices is not only crucial for health but also for dignity, aiming to provide seniors with more peace of mind.
The two leaders are particularly focused on tackling inflation, a top voter concern. Biden used the platform to criticize Donald Trump and his proposed plan, “Project 2025,” which seeks to roll back the controversial provisions allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
During the event, the Biden administration announced its first reductions in prescription drug prices through the Inflation Reduction Act, listing cuts that range from 38% to 79%. Biden remarked, “This time we finally beat Big Pharma. We can’t stop now,” reflecting their commitment to ongoing reforms.
Big news from the Biden administration today: These are the first prescription drugs to get their prices cut under the Medicare negotiation provision of the Inflation Reduction Act. HHS projects savings of $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs for seniors in 2026 when it hits. pic.twitter.com/CQZFiHuQog
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) August 15, 2024
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, these changes are expected to save seniors about $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket expenses by 2026. One attendee, Judy Aiken, a retired nurse, shared her personal battle with high drug costs, highlighting the straining impact of medical expenses on her life.
As Harris prepares to outline her economic plan in North Carolina on Friday, the political landscape is heating up with Trump’s impending press conference, prompting the Harris campaign to quip, “Tune in for the same old thing.”