NonStop Local: Senator Tester announces lower prescription drug costs for Montanans

At a press conference in Hamilton on Thursday, Senator Jon Tester announced that Montanans will see reduced costs for prescription drugs due to the Inflation Reduction Act. Nonstop Local’s Taylor Richardson attended the press conference to bring you more details on how these lowered costs will benefit elder Montanans and health care providers.

Tester revealed that Medicare will negotiate prices for 10 prescription drugs, potentially lowering costs for nearly 25,000 Montanans.

Many Montanans have struggled with rising drug costs, often leading to skipped treatments or reliance on less effective medications.

Dr. Kathleen Harder-Brouwer from Ravali Family Medicine highlighted the challenges rural doctors face, stating, “That’s one of the hardest parts about being a rural doctor, knowing there are better options for treatment, but they are effectively unavailable,” she said.

At the press conference, Ivan and Jeff Grismer from the Bitterroot Valley shared their difficulties affording Jeff’s type 2 diabetes medication, Jardiance.

“Not only is it $140 for us, but the drug in total is $1500, and the Medicare plan is $1300,” said Ivan Grismer.

The Inflation Reduction Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices, aiming to save nearly 25,000 senior Montanans on Medicare hundreds of dollars.

“Medicare across the country will save a total of $1.5 billion in outofpocket costs when these prices are implemented,” Tester said.

Here is a breakdown of estimated cost savings for some medications:

1. Eliquis (blood clots, stroke prevention)

• 2023 price: $521 (30-day supply)
• 2026 negotiated price: $231
• Save 56%
• Used by 10,246 Montana enrollees

2. Jardiance (type 2 diabetes)

• 2023 price: $573 (30-day supply)
• 2026 negotiated price: $197
• Save 66%
• Used by 3,175 Montana enrollees

3. Xarelto (blood clots, stroke prevention)

• 2023 price: $517 (30-day supply)
• 2026 negotiated price: $197
• Save 62%
• Used by 4,486 Montana enrollees

4. Januvia (type 2 diabetes)

• 2023 price: $527 (30-day supply)
• 2026 negotiated price: $113
• Save 79%
• Used by 1,928 Montana enrollees

5. Farxiga (type 2 diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease)

• 2023 price: $556 (30-day supply)
• 2026 negotiated price: $178.50
• Save 68%
• Used by 991 Montana enrollees

6. Entresto (heart failure)

• 2023 price: $628 (30-day supply)
• 2026 negotiated price: $295
• Save 53%
• Used by 858 Montana enrollees

7. Enbrel (autoimmune diseases)

• 2023 price: $7,106 (30-day supply)
• 2026 negotiated price: $2,355
• Save 67%
• Used by 197 Montana enrollees

8. Imbruvica (certain cancers)

• 2023 price: $14,934 (30-day supply)
• 2026 negotiated price: $9,319
• Save 38%
• Used by 83 Montana enrollees

9. Stelara (Crohn’s disease)

• 2023 price: $13,836 (30-day supply)
• 2026 negotiated price: $4,695
• Save 66%
• Used by 62 Montana enrollees

10. Various insulins (Fiasp, NovoLog)

• 2023 price: $495 (30-day supply)
• 2026 negotiated price: $119
• Save 76%
• Used by 2,759 Montana enrollees

The lowered drug prices will take effect at the beginning of 2026. Provisions for negotiations include 15 drugs for 2027 and 2028, and 20 drugs for 2029 and each following year.