Joined Lansing physician, Delta Township Senior at ‘Lower Costs, Better Care’ bus tour stop in Lansing 

Lansing, MI — On Oct  afternoon, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist joined Protect Our Care, Lansing family physician Dr. Farhan Bhatti, and Eric Schneidewind, a Delta Township senior on Medicare and member of the MI Community Service Commission, at the “Lower Costs, Better Care” bus tour stop in Lansing to highlight the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration’s work to implement the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and lower costs on healthcare and prescription drugs for Michiganders. 

Under the Inflation Reduction Act: 

• 258,712 Michiganders will save on monthly health insurance premiums; 

• 37,185 Medicare Part D enrollees in Michigan who experienced out-of-pocket costs over $2,000 in 2021 will now have their prescription drugs capped at $2,000 per year; 
• 121,700 Michiganders on Medicare will have insulin copays capped at $35 per month; 
• 80 prescription drugs will have Medicare price negotiation by 2030; 
• Michiganders on Medicare will be protected from Big Pharma’s arbitrary price hikes that raise drug prices faster than inflation. 

“Governor Whitmer and I are committed to ensuring every Michigander feels the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “That’s why we signed three executive directives making sure Michiganders have the information they need to apply for and receive the Act’s tax credits. We will continue working hard to lower costs for Michigan families, boost access to affordable healthcare, and keep money in Michiganders' pockets, where it belongs."

“The Inflation Reduction Act will directly help many of my patients continue to have quality affordable health care so they can keep seeing their doctor when they want to and not have to wait until they need to go to the ER,” Dr. Bhatti said. “When people have health care, they can live fuller, more rewarding lives, they can better care for themselves and their families, and they’re more likely to give back to our community. By helping people pay less for insurance premiums and cut out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, the Inflation Reduction Act truly is an investment in people, in their health and well-being, and in the future of our community.” 

“For older Americans on fixed incomes and tight budgets, medical bills can squeeze us financially and even force some of us to delay care,” Schneidewind said. “When seniors cut back on their care, the spiral of declining health worsens because care management becomes more challenging and costs go up as a condition deteriorates. By focusing on bringing down health care costs, the Inflation Reduction Act can help more seniors afford prescription drugs and insulin, improve their health and quality of life, and save lives.” 

The Protect Our Care “Lower Costs, Better Care” tour is visiting communities across the country to raise awareness of lower healthcare costs under the IRA. On Wednesday, the tour continues to Milwaukee. For more information, please visit protectourcare.org/bus-tour/. 

Governor Whitmer’s Actions to Lower Prescription Drug Costs and Expand Healthcare 

Governor Whitmer has signed bipartisan legislation to protect Michiganders against?surprise medical billing,?lower the cost of prescription drugs?by increasing pharmacy oversight, and foster more?competitive?health care?pricing by increasing transparency. She worked across the aisle to extend Healthy Michigan to?over 1 million?Michiganders, expand access to?telemedicine, and improve?dental care?for Michiganders covered by Medicaid.? 

• October 14, 2020: Governor Whitmer called on federal leaders to extend the Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment period, which would have given Michiganders more time to obtain vitally important health insurance.?  
• October 19, 2020: Governor Whitmer?announced a $1 million investment to help reach more than one?million Michiganders and provide additional support to those who may have lost health insurance in 2020 get covered.?  

• March 16, 2021: Governor Whitmer announced support for the American Rescue Plan which, among other important provisions, made health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace more affordable and more accessible for Michiganders.?  
• July 29, 2021: Governor Whitmer announced support for a proposed rule change to permanently extend the annual Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment period. The rule change was adopted and Michiganders now have an additional month to sign up for a plan each year.?  
• August 31, 2021:?Governor Whitmer?worked with federal leaders to secure $3.3 million to expand access to qualified local health insurance navigators to help more Michiganders enroll in health insurance.?  
• March 23, 2022:?Governor Whitmer?signed Senate Bills 246 and 435 to increase loan forgiveness for health professionals who work in medically underserved communities, helping more people find high quality health care in all areas of the state.?  
• June 27, 2022:?Governor Whitmer?signed Senate Bill 447, a bipartisan bill that will foster more competitive health care pricing by increasing transparency surrounding costs and coverage.?  

• June 29, 2022: Governor Whitmer?called on every major health insurance company in Michigan, urging them to take steps to ensure Michigan women have coverage for reproductive health care to the fullest extent possible under current coverage.?  
• June 29, 2022:?Governor Whitmer?joined thirteen other state governors to call on the federal government to extend the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium subsidies. Failure to extend these beyond 2022 could have raised health insurance rates for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders.?  
• August 18, 2022: Governor Whitmer directed Michigan’s health insurance companies to reduce health rates for 2023 as a result of the extension of the enhanced premium subsidies first put into place by the American Rescue Plan.?