Mike Rogers Criticizes Medicare Drug Price Negotiations
Former U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) has expressed strong opposition to Medicare negotiating drug prices, dismissing it as “sugar high politics.” Rogers is competing against U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) for the open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan.
During a senior town hall in Troy on September 20, Rogers stated his belief that the federal government should not be involved in negotiating drug prices. His comments were captured in audio obtained by the Michigan Advance.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed by President Joe Biden, enabled Medicare to negotiate drug prices, a move that had been pursued for decades. The Act also set a $35 cap on monthly insulin out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries.
Rogers, who supported the Medicare Part D program when it was introduced in 2003, defended his voting record, emphasizing the benefit it provided by covering prescription drugs for seniors. “I was involved in adding prescription drugs to Medicare for the very first time,” Rogers said at the event, highlighting the financial savings for families.
The original legislation, backed by the pharmaceutical industry, prohibited the federal government from negotiating drug prices. Rogers has defended this provision, previously stating on C-SPAN that free market forces should determine drug costs.
However, a 2019 Congressional Budget Office report revealed that net spending on specialty drugs in Medicare Part D had quadrupled from $8.7 billion in 2010 to $32.8 billion in 2015.
Rogers argued that allowing Medicare to negotiate could lead to significant premium increases. “There is rumors that there’s going to be [an] over 125% increase in premiums next year because of it. Who does that help?” he questioned.
He criticized Democrats for supporting drug price negotiations, suggesting it was a campaign tactic, saying, “So this sugar high politics that you get, I’m going to throw it right at you… It’s election season, right?”
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the negotiated prices on the first 10 drugs could save Medicare an estimated $6 billion, reducing costs by 22 percent.
Rogers’ Communications Director, Chris Gustafson, reaffirmed Rogers’ dedication to Medicare, contrasting his efforts with Slotkin’s record. “Mike Rogers fought to create Medicare Part D… Slotkin voted to raise Medicare premiums,” Gustafson stated.
Politifact rated as “False” a claim by Rogers’ campaign that Slotkin voted to cut Medicare, noting that the Inflation Reduction Act includes new benefits for beneficiaries.
Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Sam Chan criticized Rogers, alleging his ties to Big Pharma influence his stance. Chan remarked, “It’s clear that Rogers is only in this race to enrich himself and his wealthy special interest backers.”
Reports from Bridge Michigan highlighted Rogers’ past advocacy for greater access to pain medications while receiving contributions from pharmaceutical companies.
The Rogers campaign linked potential Medicare premium increases to a Fox News story, which cited Joe Grogan, a former Trump advisor.
Nonetheless, a KFF report noted that the Inflation Reduction Act includes provisions to limit premium increases, capping growth in the base beneficiary premium at 6% annually.
This story was originally published by the Michigan Advance
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