By Peyton Miles
I find myself reflecting on the women who have shaped me into who I am today. Each woman, whether a mother, sister, or daughter, offers a unique perspective on what it means to be a woman. However, I have found that resilience and strength out of the sheer necessity to ensure the health and well-being of oneself and one’s family, are burdens that every woman must carry.
The U.S. healthcare system encompasses many barriers for women: from a lack of research into women’s specific health needs, economic disadvantages, gender bias, and cultural and societal bias. President Biden sought to combat some of these issues through his Prescription Drug Law. On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, I had the distinct honor of attending The White House convening on ‘How Women are Benefitting from President Biden’s Historic Prescription Drug Law’ to learn about the multidisciplinary approach that Biden’s policy team has taken to ease the burden that healthcare so greatly affects women across the U.S.
Before I get into the events of the day, let me introduce myself. My name is Peyton Miles (she/her). I am a Black 20-year-old female, living with New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH), and co-morbidities. While my various conditions have uprooted my initial life plans, they have provided me with the opportunity to become a health policy scholar at Generation Patient. It was through this program that I found myself at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington D.C., about to embark on my first in-person event as a member of Generation Patient.
There was an immediate air of excitement as I entered the room where the convening was to be held. Just to be here, I gained a sense of historical significance. Expansive arches, vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate sconces and hand-carved wood, and four beautiful chairs on the platform at the front of the room momentarily left me breathless. The room was full of about 30-40 people all eager to hear what strides the Biden Administration has taken in improving women’s health in the U.S.
The session began with Domestic Policy Council Director Neera Tanden, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Andrea Palm, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare Dr. Meena Seshamani, and Gender Policy Council Deputy Director Katie Keith, providing an overview of the multidisciplinary approach taken to create Biden’s Prescription Drug Law whose goal is to improve the lives of women on Medicaid. In each of their introductions, they highlighted the ways in which the Inflation Reduction Act will reduce barriers to healthcare.
The Inflation Reduction Act had four key improvements for women: prescription drug cost reduction, caps on out-of-pocket expenses, extended subsidies, and improved access to preventative services. The implementation and impact of these changes were presented in the form of speakers and a panel featuring our very own Sneha Dave - Executive Director of Generation Patient, Stacie Dusetzina - Professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Jocelyn Frye - the President of the National Partnership for Women and Families, and Leigh Purvis - the Prescription Drug Policy Principal of the AARP, and last but certainly not least, Samantha Reid - a Patient Advocate and Senior Director of Digital Engagement at the Center for American Progress.
The implementation of these improvements was described to be in the form of a “phased rollout.” Ten prescription medications are the initial focus of the prescription drug cost reduction, with a focus on medications that specifically impact women and minorities. This includes life-saving medications such as treatments for cancer, autoimmune disorders, asthma, and insulin, which will specifically have a significantly lower cap of $35 per month for those on Medicare. The law also includes capping out-of-pocket costs for Medicare subscribers to $2000 per year by 2025. These changes will help to ease the financial burden that healthcare often brings for women as they look to care for themselves and their families.
As someone who is constantly dealing with the “other side” of the healthcare system, it was energizing to be in a room full of people who not only acknowledged the barriers and inequities that women face, but also took action to improve access and quality of care. As we look ahead to health policies even beyond the transformative IRA, that impact access to medicines for young adults with chronic conditions, I am looking forward to engaging in our work to reform the patent system to ensure innovation and timely access to biosimilars and generics.