Joshua Joseph, MD, celebrates Inflation Reduction Act anniversary at White House event

Joshua Joseph, MD, has treated many patients who have made tough decisions between paying their bills on time and affording the cost of their insulin prescriptions.

As an associate professor of Internal Medicine, endocrinologist and researcher at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, he stepped up his work advocating to improve drug affordability for seniors and people with disabilities in his role as the chair of the Clinical Affairs Core Committee for the Endocrine Society.

Recently, Dr. Joseph joined medical experts, patients and Javier Becerra, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, to provide insight into how capping insulin co-pays at $35 a month for an estimated 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries who use the medication to manage their diabetes, has been life-changing for many.

Dr. Joseph shared about how prior to the cap, he was getting calls after hours from patients who were at the pharmacy and unable to afford the excessive cost of prescribed insulin.

“Many patients were unable to take their insulin as prescribed or I had to switch patients over to older insulins that can cause low blood sugar so they could afford them,” Dr. Joseph says. “Now, these conversations have stopped. It is tremendous.”

The panel was moderated by Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, included patients who shared their personal stories and how the cap has helped them have access to affordable medication and ensure better health. The last part of the event focused a provision that is going to be equally important. The Act includes a cap for out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 in 2025.

The momentous day celebrated historic progress and highlighted the continued work necessary to insure people have adequate access to affordable medication and disease management.

“It took advocacy, policy and legislation to make this happen,” Dr. Joseph says. “And it means people won’t be caught between putting food on the table and having needed insulin to manage diabetes.”

United States government representatives who participated in the event:

• Javier Becerra, Secretary of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Stephen Benjamin, Director of Public Engagement
• Chiquita Brooks-Lasure, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Neera Tanden, Director of the Domestic Policy Council