[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 19, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H238-H239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       MEDICARE PREMIUM INCREASE

  (Mr. COURTNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, on November 12, Medicare announced the 
largest part B premium increase in the history of the Medicare program, 
14 percent. This could not come at a worse time in terms of, again, the 
cost of living that many seniors are facing.
  Looking closely at that decision, one of the driving factors was the 
projected cost of the drug Aduhelm, which was priced at $56,000 per 
year for Alzheimer's patients who were, again, very excited about the 
possibility of getting the benefit of that drug. But the cost of that 
drug was one of the big driving forces for a 14 percent rate increase.
  On December 20, Biogen, the manufacturer, cut the cost of that drug 
from $56,000 to $28,000. About 2 weeks ago, Secretary Becerra correctly 
instructed the actuaries of Medicare to go back and try and recalculate 
the Medicare part B premium to see if there was a way to get some 
relief for seniors from that 14 percent rate increase.
  Today, 31 Members of the House Democratic Caucus are sending a letter 
to Secretary Becerra again applauding his decision and strongly 
advocating that Medicare go back in and recalculate that rate increase, 
which will provide tremendous assistance for seniors at exactly the 
time that they need it.

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