On Wednesday, President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders joined forces to highlight the administration’s efforts to reduce the cost of health care, including inhalers. The event took place at the White House, where Biden commended Sanders for their collective 25-year fight against Big Pharma.
Both Biden and Sanders highlighted their efforts to pressure inhaler manufacturers to limit the costs of the devices to no more than $35 per month, significantly lower than the current prices ranging from $200 to $600 without insurance. They celebrated the passage of the Democrats’ comprehensive climate, health care, and tax package, which capped various health care expenses for Medicare recipients, such as $35 per month for insulin and $2,000 per year for prescription drugs.
The legislation was passed without any Republican support, and while Biden’s team believes that his accomplishments on this issue are popular among the public, the president has yet to receive widespread recognition from voters. Sanders expressed gratitude towards President Biden for his actions on this issue so far and expressed eagerness to collaborate with him in the future. Despite being competitors in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, Sanders and Biden have worked together to shape party policy platforms that reflect Sanders’ influence. The event was an opportunity for the two political figures to showcase their partnership and their joint efforts on health care affordability.
.png)