Letters to the Editor: Abbie Fuksman
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Letter to the Editor,
Why health care is a Jewish issue and why the Inflation Reduction Act is a Tzedakah based health care system.
The famous line “justice, justice, shall you pursue” is a call for us to live a life filled with tzedakah. Our Atlanta Jewish community’s long and deep involvement in social justice issues is a testament to our commitment to this principle. However, across denominational lines, drawn from text, pursuing justice goes beyond our judicial system, it also calls for the right to equal access to basic healthcare — especially for our aging population.
That is why I’m thrilled to celebrate the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, which reduces healthcare costs, especially for our seniors. Medicare now has the authority to negotiate lower prices for the costliest drugs, including medications that treat conditions like diabetes, heart failure, blood clots, and autoimmune disorders. The law also caps monthly insulin costs at $35 for people with Medicare, provides free recommended vaccines, and penalizes drug companies that increase prices faster than inflation. Starting next year, seniors’ drug costs will be capped at $2,000 annually. Previously, there was no limit on what they had to pay. The Inflation Reduction Act also lowered premium costs for people who buy coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Together, these policies are saving people like me thousands of dollars on health care costs, giving us much-needed breathing room in our budgets.
In all my years working with Blue Cross, Hospital Corporations and large physician groups did I think I’d witness such a significant shift in healthcare and prescription drug pricing.
Not only did Republicans voted unanimously against the Inflation Reduction Act, but former President Trump and his allies are working behind the scenes to repeal it. Their policy agenda will raise prescription drug and insurance premium costs for nearly 20 million Americans and strip away health care from 45 million.
Abbie Fuksman, Atlanta
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