ACHP Applauds Congress for Passing Critical Relief in Inflation Reduction Act

ACHP lauds the bill as a “win for consumers”, calls for additional action on drug pricing

Washington, D.C. (August 12, 2022) – The Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) applauds Congress for passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides critical financial relief to Americans across the nation. The package will protect access to high-quality coverage and care for millions of Americans and provide lower drug costs for seniors — laying the ground for continued vital work to lower health costs.

ACHP has long advocated for extending the enhanced ACA subsidies, which ensure access to high-quality, affordable coverage and care for millions of consumers in the individual market.

“This is a win for consumers and will provide relief to families struggling to pay everyday bills. By extending enhanced ACA subsidies, millions of Americans no longer have to worry whether they can keep their high-quality, affordable coverage,” said ACHP President and CEO Ceci Connolly. “ACHP member companies have always been champions of protecting access to coverage and care, as demonstrated by our steadfast commitment to the individual market. We will continue to advocate for policies that promote affordability, maintain continuity of coverage and care, and deliver better health for patients.”

As the only national payer group to push for comprehensive drug reforms such as Medicare price negotiation and addressing patent abuses, ACHP commends Congress for taking a significant step forward in efforts to lower prescription drug costs.

“Elected officials are finally tackling soaring drug prices and protecting consumers. While this is an important step forward, more must be done to hold drug companies accountable for their egregious pricing practices,” said Connolly. “We are ready to continue working with Congress and the Administration on finding new ways to reduce the cost of valuable therapies.”

ACHP urges Congress to pass new legislation that will extend the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug pricing provisions for Medicare to the commercial market as well — closing a loophole within the legislation that could allow drugmakers to shift costs to consumers with private insurance.

About ACHP

The Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) represents the nation’s top-performing nonprofit health companies, which serve tens of millions of Americans in 36 states and D.C. ACHP member plans collaborate with providers on high-quality coverage and care — leading the industry in practical reforms.

ACHP is the voice of a unique payer-provider partnership model advancing proven solutions that deliver better value for patients, employers and taxpayers. Contact us for case studies and data about member innovations and results.

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