DEMOCRATS EYE MEDICAID EXPANSION, INSULIN CAP

House Democratic leaders said they want to fill in the gaps from the Inflation Reduction Act by focusing on Medicaid expansion and insulin pricing if they manage to hold the majority next year.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters the No. 1 priority he wants to tackle if Democrats keep the House and Senate is providing health coverage to the 12 states that haven’t expanded Medicaid.

“There is no doubt we’re going to pursue objectives that both [Majority Whip] Clyburn and I have talked about being priorities. Number one making sure the 12 states that refused to include the people under Medicaid,” Hoyer said.

Hoyer said he also wants to extend a $35 cap on insulin costs to the private sector. The legislation only applies the cap to Medicare patients. The original Senate bill included that provision, but Republicans voted against overruling the Senate parliamentarian and it was removed.