Sen. Bob Casey hears testimony at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions’ subcommittee on Children and Families July 9, 2024 (U.S. Senate photo)
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey sent a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on Thursday, urging the federal department to increase outreach efforts around the upcoming $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries.
The provision, which is included in the Inflation Reduction Act, takes effect in January 2025, but Casey expresses concern in the letter that those who are eligible may not have enough information about it.
“A lack of information and communication could leave older adults paying more and missing out on benefits to which they are entitled,” Casey writes in the letter, which is co-authored by Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia). “As this and other prescription drug pricing provisions from the IRA take effect, we urge the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase outreach efforts to older adults to ensure they are aware of how to benefit from the law.”
Almost 19 million senior citizens and other Part D beneficiaries are projected by the HHS to save $400 per year on prescription drugs when the out-of-pocket cap drops to $2,000 in January, and 1.9 million enrollees with the highest drug costs will save an average of $2,500 per year.
The letter notes that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which is part of the HHS, has provided some guidance and a fact sheet, but he thinks the agency should share more information about the details.
“For example, Medicare beneficiaries need information about how to guarantee their prescription drugs count towards the out-of-pocket cap and how to choose the best Part D plan for their individual needs, ” the letter states. “Without this critical information, beneficiaries may end up paying more than expected.”
With open enrollment beginning Oct. 15, Casey and Warnock write, there’s “a key opportunity for beneficiaries to ensure their health plans meet their needs.”
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