Representative Angie Craig, Colleagues Urge CMS to Reconsider Increase in Medicare Part B Premiums

Statement

Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig led more than 30 of her colleagues in urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider a 14.5% increase in Medicare Part B premiums in 2022. Late last year, CMS announced that Medicare's Part B monthly premium for 2022 would increase by $21.60 -- an increase largely driven by the exorbitant launch price of a newly approved Alzheimer's drug called Aduhlem. In their letter, the Members reminded CMS of the Biden Administration's promise to lower health care costs -- especially for the nation's seniors -- and urged further action to reduce costs for the American people.

"Much like President Biden, we promised to reduce prescription drug costs-- particularly for older Americans. We cannot break our promise to the American people," wrote Representative Craig. "Nearly 64 million Americans rely on Medicare for their health care coverage, the majority of whom pay monthly Part B premiums. As the global pandemic rages on and prices rise in many sectors of the economy, our nation's seniors simply cannot afford this sudden and unnecessary increase in their health care costs."

Medicare officials announced that the unprecedented price increase -- the largest dollar increase in the health insurance program's history -- was due, in part, to the high price of Aduhlem. However, last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra called on CMS to reevaluate the increase, citing a recent price reduction of Aduhlem from $56,000 to about $28,000. In their letter, the Members urged CMS to honor Secretary Becerra's request, arguing that the historic premium increases could prove unaffordable to the nation's seniors -- especially amidst a deadly global pandemic that has already increased prices for Americans in a broad array of sectors.

Craig was joined in signing the letter by Representatives Cindy Axne (IA-03), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07), Julia Brownley (CA-26), G.K. Butterfield (NC-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Judy Chu (CA-27), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Charlie Crist (FL-13), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Mike Doyle (PA-18), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Tom Malinowski, (NJ-07), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kathleen Rice (NY-04), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Bobby Rush (IL-01), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Peter Welch (VT-AL) and Nikema Williams (GA-5).

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