Internists, AAFP endorse health provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

The American College of Physicians endorsed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, a federal budget reconciliation bill that improves access to health care among many other things. In addition, the American Academy of Family Physicians announced it is supporting several health-care related provisions, as well.

The ACP said it is pleased that many of the health care policies it recommended are included in the package. This includes extending Affordable Care Act subsidies for three additional years, allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices with manufacturers, capping out-of-pocket drug costs, reducing carbon pollution, and advancing clean energy solutions.

According to the ACP, allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies will let Medicare leverage its considerable purchasing power to help seniors afford their medication. This provision is also supported by the AFP. "We are pleased that the Inflation Reduction Act includes provisions aimed at lowering prescription drug costs by allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to leverage Medicare’s purchasing power and negotiate drug prices with manufactures and capping beneficiaries’ annual and monthly Part D out-of-pocket costs," the AAFP said in a statement.

The increased ACA subsidies for health insurance has boosted the number of insured, and the ACP said it is vital to keep patients insured so they can afford health care. This provision also won the full support of the AAFP. "This is an important step toward ensuring that millions of Americans can retain affordable, comprehensive insurance coverage," the AAFP said in a statement.

The organization also said it backed the provisions that would help fund clean energy projects and combat the climate crisis by reducing carbon pollution by roughly 40% by 2030.

“Climate change is already harming the health of millions of people in America and throughout the world,” the ACP said in a statement. “We see increased rates of respiratory and heat-related illnesses, increased prevalence of diseases passed by insects, water-borne diseases, and food and water insecurity promoting malnutrition. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the poor are especially vulnerable to these potential health consequences. We need policies that will help to ensure that our planet is healthy enough to support healthy humans.”