Gonzalez: We need to control prescription drug prices

HARLINGEN, Texas – Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragán said she was recently with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris when they announced plans to save money on prescription drugs.

Asked about the plan, U.S. Congressman Vicente Gonzalez said:

“Those are basic needs that I think communities like those in Rio Grande Valley need. We need to control prescription drugs. We need to control inflation, which has come down, we need to increase wages, and we need to make college education more accessible. There are so many other proposals that I think are coming from this administration.”

Asked if the Inflation Reduction Act played a role, Gonzalez said:

“The Inflation Reduction Act is what capped insulin and other prescription drugs at $35 a month, which kicks in next month. It’ll be extraordinarily impactful for our community, (as we have) one of the highest rates of diabetes in the country.

“Many people are on this particular prescription, and I think it’ll be a huge benefit. Medicare recipients will be capped at, I think, $1,500 a year. So, we’re going to see a lot of inflation relief coming in this next cycle.”

Gonzalez was in San Benito recently to make an announcement about a federal grant for Cameron County Irrigation District No. 2. He said this grant, too, came about thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.

“We’re doing conservation projects that are going to be very helpful to the water problem that we have here in South Texas. Not a single Republican voted for those proposals. Yet, we’re getting hundreds of millions of dollars invested in water infrastructure here in South Texas that came from that bill,” Gonzalez said.

“That’s something that I supported, something that I continue to support, to try to give the nourishment to small communities and municipalities and water districts to get those resources.”

Gonzalez was asked if no Republican member of Congress from Texas voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, or no Republican from across the United States voted against it. He said, no Republican from across the country.

Editor’s Note: Here is an audio interview the Rio Grande Guardian secured with Congressman Gonzalez in Harlingen on Aug. 26, 2024:

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U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s perspective

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U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said he was pleased to announce lower costs for the country’s most expensive prescription drugs under Medicare.

“I voted to pass the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act), which has lowered health care and prescription drug costs for Americans. It not only capped the monthly cost of insulin for seniors on Medicare at $35 but also limited out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors,” said Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.

“Furthermore, due to the IRA, the administration was able to negotiate lower costs for ten of the most expensive prescription drugs under Medicare. This is a historic achievement and will bring needed relief to everyday Americans. I voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to ensure that Americans get the help they need. I will continue to support efforts to reduce health care costs.” 

Cuellar said the ten drugs negotiated down include Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Enbrel, Imbruvica, Stelara, and NovoLog/Fiasp.

Cuellar said that through the IRA, more than 100,000 Texans on Medicare are saving on average $441 per year through the insulin price cap alone. He said it caps insulin costs at $35 per month for those on Medicare and limits out-of-pocket prescription drug costs to $2,000 per year.

Cuellar added that 1.3 million Texans will save $400 per year on average through the IRA’s $2,000 out-of-pocket cap, which will begin in 2025.

U.S. Rep. Nanette Barragán’s perspective

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Barragán, chair of the CHC, said she was pleased to join Biden and Harris as they announced new measures to help millions of families and communities across America, including Latinos, to save money on prescription drugs. She said this means they will not have to choose between their healthcare and other everyday expenses for their families.

Barragán said that in a historic move to reduce prescription drug prices, the Biden-Harris Administration had successfully negotiated to lower costs for ten of the most expensive drugs in the Medicare program, offering significant relief to millions of Americans, especially low-income Latinos who often face tough financial decisions due to high drug costs.

These new prices, effective January 1, 2026, will provide much-needed savings, Barragán said, with Medicare expected to save $6 billion and beneficiaries to see $1.5 billion in reduced out-of-pocket expenses.

Barragán said these medications, which treat critical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer —conditions that disproportionately impact Latino communities — will now be more affordable and accessible. 

“This effort was in part made possible thanks to the work that Democrats in Congress did to pass the Inflation Reduction Act. I also want to thank Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, for his leadership throughout the Medicare negotiation process. This announcement underscores our commitment to putting people over politics and making life-saving medications accessible to all communities,” Barragán added.

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