Dear friends,

The Inflation Reduction Act might not sound like legislation that has anything to do with health equity or addressing disparities in the United States, but it’s about to make health care more affordable for millions of people.

Partners In Health has been tracking the bill’s progress, from its introduction in Congress to President Joe Biden signing it into law on Tuesday. Our U.S. advocacy team is here to explain why we should be excited about the Act, and where it falls short:

1. Extended support for health insurance premiums. Without this, millions risked facing increasing health insurance costs and potentially lost coverage.
   
   

    

2. Lower-cost prescriptions through Medicare negotiations—a feat that was out of reach for the past 18 years.
   
   

3. Investments to address climate change. Environmental injustice and health injustice go hand-in-hand, and this is the biggest investment in climate change action in U.S. history.

1. No provisions to address the maternal health crisis, which disproportionately affects Black women.
   
   

    

2. No child and family supports via child tax credits or investments in child care, leaving low-income families without essential evidence-based support.
   
   

3. A missed opportunity to invest in the U.S. public health infrastructure and workforce, despite previous efforts that are still a far cry from what is needed to deliver an equitable public health system. 

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