Having spent decades paying attention to the people and organizations that create policies — and the policies that shape our society — I am well aware of the complex nature of trying to create ones that benefit the majority of a population, while attempting to avoid unintended consequences.
Unfortunately, we are starting to see the unintended consequences of the very well-intentioned Inflation Reduction Act.
For example, we all share the goal of reducing costs for medical patients, but IRA is creating reduced access for patients, and congregants, while threatening jobs and future innovation.
In fact, the recently announced list of the first 10 drugs subject to government price setting means a growing list of areas of unmet patient need will face even greater hurdles. Research shows that government-mandated drug-pricing provisions will hinder the development of future therapies dependent on reinvesting returns. It’s become quite worrisome that some companies have already pulled drugs from clinical trials because price controls will limit their economic viability — early signs that hundreds of would-be research and development opportunities will never come to fruition because of IRA’s overstep.
In short, lifesaving innovations, and the jobs that create them, are at risk.
At a time when the faith community can be divided on a variety of social issues, I believe all of us in the clergy can agree that systems that are life-affirming should be strengthened, not weakened through misguided attempts to shape policy. This is not a political issue; this is a moral issue.
I urge our lawmakers to work to improve the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act and increase transparency in the process, keeping a focus on the impact these policies will have on patients — both what they pay but also what medicines they are able to access.
Again, I share the goal of reducing costs and improving access for patients, but my concern is that these policies will not do either of those things. Instead, much of the “savings” will not go toward strengthening the Medicare program at all but instead will be used to fund non-health care endeavors.
Working together, I believe we can create, and implement, policies that meet our shared goals, while avoiding the repercussions of reducing patient access to lifesaving medication, threatening jobs and discouraging future innovations.
The Rev. Robert P. Hall
President and CEO, Christian Council of Delmarva
Wilmington
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
