A Very Special Visitor
On the afternoon of Thursday, September 1st, Senior PharmAssist had the honor of hosting the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris. She was here to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law on August 16. This new law will affect prescription drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries nationwide — and Senior PharmAssist enthusiastically supports this bill.

Our staff arranged for eight individuals to speak with Vice President Harris, Governor Roy Cooper, and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Chiquita Brooks-LaSure about how the law will specifically affect their lives.

We have shared four personal stories below.

Also in attendance were tremendous advocates — Melinda Munden, director of the NC Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, (SHIIP); BJ Boyarski,one of Senior PharmAssist’s lead SHIIP volunteers; former board member and pharmacist advocate Darius Russell; and current board member and Hispanic advocate Rebecca Reyes. Durham Mayor O’Neal and Congressman Price were also present, along with many other dignitaries and older adults who regularly attend activities at the Durham Center for Senior Life.

This new law will eventually reduce prices of critical life-saving drugs, cap out-of-pocket prescriptions, and negotiate some drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries. It will also limit insulin copays to $35 per month for those with Medicare, impose penalties on drug manufacturers that raise Medicare drug prices faster than inflation, and beginning in January 2023, Medicare will begin covering the shingles vaccine – with no copayment like other critical vaccines.

We want give a special thanks to the staff of the Durham Center for Senior Life who worked behind the scenes to make this event possible, including daily meetings with the Secret Service that began five days before the event!
Gina Upchurch introducing VP Harris
What the Inflation Reduction Act Means
to Medicare Beneficiaries
Lillian Creveling
Mrs. Creveling, who is an amazing seamstress and has found great joy in teaching others to sew, agreed to share her story with the Vice President and media.

For years, she and her husband struggled to pay for medicines – including his medicines for Parkinson’s Disease. Currently, Mrs. Creveling has “partial” Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) or sometimes called “Extra Help," and Senior PharmAssist’s assistance to help her pay for her prescriptions. She has several chronic conditions that require a number of medications and the copayments add up. She will benefit from the new legislation in that even though her income may not change, she will be eligible for “full” Extra Help in 2024. This means that if Senior PharmAssist was not helping her she would go from paying $1,600 a year for her medicines to $300 for the entire year!
Sharon Lawrence
Mrs. Lawrence was shocked to learn the shingles vaccine would have cost her $170 last year. She decided not to get vaccinated because she didn't think she could afford it.

As a pharmacist herself and having a family member who had a bad case of shingles, she knew that getting the vaccine would be wise. She is a busy caregiver already and doesn’t need more stress so was thrilled to learn that in January 2023, the shingles vaccine – like other vaccines considered critical by Medicare – will be covered with no deductibles or copayments. About 1 out of every 3 people in the U.S. will develop this painful illness so getting vaccinated is the only way to protect yourself.

Mrs. Lawrence also needs insulin to regulate her blood sugar and will benefit with the new $35 copay starting in 2023.
Suresh and Prem Aggarwal
The Aggarwals visited Senior PharmAssist several months ago to understand their medication costs with Medicare Part D, should Mrs. Aggarwal decide to retire at 74. They were shocked to learn that they might owe $17,000 for his medications alone — given the cost on one expensive brand-name drug. The reason? Because the current Medicare drug benefit does not have an annual or maximum out-of-pocket cap. The Inflation Reduction Act will change this. Annual medication caps will be $3,250 in 2024, and $2,000 in 2025, if individuals enroll in plans that cover their specific medications.

In the meantime, his insulin costs will be $35 per month in 2023, which will provide more near-term relief. Vice President Harris noted that “many on Medicare have to pay more than $100 a month for insulin to treat diabetes and can spend up to $10,000 a year for prescription drugs.” She said many people have had to ration their insulin when they can’t afford to refill their prescription. “A diabetic who goes for too long without insulin could fall into a coma or even die,” she said.

Fortunately, the Aggarwals have had employer coverage that has worked well for them. They believe this new legislation will give them time together in retirement without having to worry that medication costs will drain their savings. Mrs. Aggarwal wonders, “Why we have such trouble in the United States paying for healthcare and prescription drugs when so many other countries have figured out a way to make it more affordable?”
What the New Legislation Means
The Aggarwal’s story makes it clear that while some of the changes with the new legislation is focused on helping those with more limited incomes, many of the changes will affect all Medicare beneficiaries.

That is because medication price increases will be capped at inflation (and for years medication prices have eclipsed inflation). Also, there will be some price negotiations directly between Medicare and the manufacturers beginning in a few years, and finally, as noted above, there will be annual caps or “maximum out-of-pockets” amounts beyond which Medicare beneficiaries do not pay. This last point is critical because the way the Medicare D benefit has been re-designed will put more pressure on the insurance companies and manufacturers to tap down prices versus the recent trend of raising them year after year.
Linking Stories to Policy
Our mission: Senior PharmAssist promotes healthier living for older adults in Durham by helping them obtain and better manage needed medications and by providing health education, Medicare insurance counseling, community referrals, and advocacy.

Advocacy has been a critical part of our mission for years. Click here to read how we support and advocate for policies that make life better for others. Just like the Inflation Reduction Act does. The new law is not a cure-all. We know that Senior PharmAssist’s financial support will still be needed as many individuals will continue to struggle to pay for and manage their medications. However, the Inflation Reduction Act is a major step forward.
The Event in Pictures
Prepping: COVID & Safety
Excitement the day of the visit
Representative David Price (D) and Governor Roy Cooper (D) spoke about their experience working with the VP to help provide seniors with affordable healthcare.