Patients. Not Politicians.
Patients and their doctors should decide what medicines are best for them. But, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) lets politicians decide what medicines are valuable and which diseases get researched. It risks future treatments, including possible cures. It could lead to fewer choices for seniors.
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The IRA's Unintended Consequences
Putting barriers between you and the medicine your doctor prescribes.
Right now, Medicare Part D plans use competition to get significant discounts on brand medicines and offer a wide range of coverage and treatment options. But the price setting policies in the IRA change how Part D works and will likely lead to fewer choices and less access to medicines for seniors.
Jeopardizing continued research into approved medicines.
The R&D companies conduct after the FDA approves a medicine often results in additional discoveries that improve patients’ lives. One medicine might be used to treat multiple different conditions, reaching more diverse and larger patient populations as researchers uncover additional benefits. But the price setting provisions actively discourage this critical R&D. As a result, the full clinical benefits of medicines may never be realized and made available to patients.
Shifting research and development away from pills and tablets.
Because small molecule medicines come in a variety of pill forms, like tablets or capsules, they are easier to take and are often preferred by patients. This may improve adherence, potentially keeping patients healthier. However, the IRA discourages the development of small molecule medicines by starting the process for price setting on these medications earlier than other types of medicines.