Fox News anchor John Roberts and the Biden campaign clashed over insulin price cap claims.
The debate centers on which administration initiated the cap. Roberts presents evidence favoring Trump's administration, while the Biden campaign credits the Inflation Reduction Act.
Fox News anchor John Roberts recently engaged in a heated exchange with the Biden campaign over conflicting claims regarding which administration is responsible for capping insulin prices. According to the Daily Caller, Roberts pointed to evidence suggesting that former President Donald Trump’s administration initiated the cap. At the same time, the Biden campaign insists that the cap was established through President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.
Roberts challenged the Biden campaign's assertion that the credit for the insulin price cap belongs solely to the Biden administration. In May 2020, Trump signed an executive order aimed at capping insulin prices for Medicare recipients, a move highlighted by Roberts during his broadcast. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) confirmed this, noting that over 1,750 Medicare Part D prescription drug plans applied to offer lower insulin costs through the Part D Senior Savings Model for the 2021 plan year.
The Biden campaign quickly refuted Roberts’ claims, calling them a "blatant lie." According to the campaign, Trump did not cap insulin costs, asserting that President Biden achieved this through the Inflation Reduction Act. They also warned that Trump’s Project 2025 aims to repeal the cap, potentially raising insulin costs for over a million Americans.
In response, Roberts presented an on-air CMS press release from May 2020 detailing Trump's executive action to lower insulin prices. This press release highlighted the efforts of the Trump administration to provide Medicare beneficiaries access to insulin at a maximum $35 copay per month, a move praised by the American Diabetes Association’s CEO at the time.
The press release stated:
Today, under President Trump’s leadership, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that over 1,750 standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage have applied to offer lower insulin costs through the Part D Senior Savings Model for the 2021 plan year.
Trump’s executive action in May 2020 aimed to reduce insulin prices for Medicare recipients was attended by several CEOs from participating drug companies. The American Diabetes Association’s CEO also praised the initiative, acknowledging the significant impact it could have on patients relying on insulin.
Despite this, President Biden paused Trump's executive action on his second day in office, though the Trump-era order eventually took effect in March 2021. The Biden administration has since taken credit for the insulin price cap over the past three years, a point that continues to be a source of contention between both camps.
Roberts' evidence has brought attention to the ongoing debate over who should be credited for capping insulin prices. The current administration cites the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act as the key legislative measure responsible for the cap. However, Roberts’ broadcast, featuring the CMS press release and the praise from key stakeholders, has complicated this narrative.
The clash between Roberts and the Biden campaign highlights a broader issue of how credit for policy achievements is claimed and communicated to the public. With both sides presenting evidence to support their claims, the dispute over the insulin price cap is likely to continue as a point of political contention.
The debate over the insulin price cap between Fox News anchor John Roberts and the Biden campaign underscores the complexities of attributing credit for policy measures. Roberts presented evidence supporting Trump's administration's role in capping insulin prices, while the Biden campaign insists that the Inflation Reduction Act under President Biden is responsible.
The CMS press release and praise from industry leaders add further dimensions to this ongoing dispute. As the discussion continues, the public is left to navigate these competing narratives to understand the true origins and impacts of the insulin price cap.
