Fight is brewing between Medicare, drugmakers over prices. How will it affect Arizona seniors?
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The Biden administration made a big step toward lowering the price of some of the country’s most popular medications on Tuesday — it announced its list of the first 10 drugs that Medicare will negotiate prices for with drugmakers.
The list includes popular blood thinners, diabetes drugs, a drug that treats blood cancers and another few that are used to treat diseases like arthritis and Crohn’s disease. It’s the first time Medicare will have the power to negotiate, after the Inflation Reduction Act made it possible last year.
Advocates say lowering these prices will make a huge difference for seniors. But, drugmakers are fighting the move in court, claiming it’s unconstitutional and gives the government too much power, potentially stifling innovation and investment in new drug research.
Dana Marie Kennedy, state director of AARP Arizona, joined The Show to talk about what this could look like for seniors in Arizona.
