Dear Editor: The Postcard

Dear Editor,

I received a postcard this weekend from Senator Daines and President Trump accusing the Biden administration of breaking Medicare with price controls.

The only conclusion that can be drawn from the carefully constructed lies it contained is that the pharmaceutical industry's lobbyists have increased pressure on them to roll back Medicare's ability to negotiate prices on behalf of its members.

The lies that Medicare's ability to negotiate on the behalf of its members will prevent the development of new drugs, reduce access to affordable new medicine and create a 70% cut in research funding for new cures misrepresent the facts.

The ten most profitable pharmaceutical companies earned from $18.39 billion (Johnson & Johnson) to $7.06 billion (abbvie) in profits last year.

The so-called "Biden Pill Penalty" is why there is now a $35/month cap on the cost of insulin and that the limit for out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs in 2025 is set at $2,000. The only "penalty" seems to be a limit on how much drug companies can charge.

Another fact: An analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found the Inflation Reduction Act which gives Medicare the ability to negotiate drug pricing provisions will REDUCE THE FEDERAL DEFICIT BY $237 BILLION from 2022 to 2031.

The postcard promises "Trump and Congress will fix Medicare" by ending the "Biden Pill Penalty." Reality check: There's nothing to fix.

I keep requesting that Sheehy, Daines, Downing, and Zinke man-up and come to Montana for in-person town halls. They promised to serve Montanans and protect the Constitution. To date they have chosen to hide out in Washington... preferring to believe that I am a paid agitator while they pretend they are serving the best interests of their constituents.

Respectfully submitted,

RUTH LOTT

Cardwell, Montana