A reconciliation bill is expected to be submitted to the Senate parliamentarian on Wednesday. The text of the bill will reflect an agreement among all Senate Democrats.
The deal is part of a larger Democratic project to possibly resurrect the massive spending bill championed by the Biden administration. Manchin ended previous negotiations over the spending bill after the House of Representatives passed it in December, but expressed an interest in negotiating over some aspects of the bill.
The agreed-upon bill needs to be reviewed to make sure it is in line with the Senate's rules.
If approved to go through reconciliation by the parliamentarian and passed by both chambers of Congress, the bill would allow Medicare to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies and cap out-of-pocket costs for Medicare patients. Drug companies would have to pay back consumers if they raised prices above inflation.
Climate change and tax reform are included in the original text, but other aspects are still being negotiated.
Manchin supports proposals that would lower prescription drug costs for seniors, and his support has never been in question, according to his communications director. He was happy that all 50 Democrats agreed.
Free vaccines for seniors and expanded co-pay assistance for low income individuals are included in the deal on prescription drugs.
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