President Biden was seen with CPAP machine strap lines on his face during a health care event with Sen. Bernie Sanders at the White House. The White House confirmed that Biden has been using a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing restarts during sleep. CPAP machines help ensure sufficient airflow and oxygen during sleep by providing higher levels of airwave pressure. This confirmation came after the president was previously seen with marks on his face during a walk across the White House lawn, leading to speculation and an online frenzy.
Despite the concerns about his health, White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor stated earlier this year that there were no new medical concerns regarding Biden’s sleep apnea diagnosis. The president has disclosed his history with sleep apnea in detailed medical reports since 2008. Biden, at 81 years old, is currently the oldest sitting US president in history and would be 86 at the end of a hypothetical second term. His chief rival, Donald Trump, who is 77, would surpass Biden as the oldest president if he were to win a second term in November.
During the health care event with Bernie Sanders, both Biden and Sanders discussed efforts to lower prescription drug prices in the country. They highlighted the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, which imposed a $35 cap on insulin for Medicare beneficiaries. The administration has also worked to negotiate lower prices for over a dozen medicines, but both Biden and Sanders expressed a desire to go further and negotiate prices for at least 50 drugs a year. They also called for capping costs for Americans annually at $2,000.
Biden and Sanders celebrated the progress made in curbing prescription drug prices and emphasized the need to continue pushing for more reforms. Sanders commended the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress for taking steps to tackle the influence of pharmaceutical companies and make progress on reducing drug prices. Biden expressed optimism about the future of health care in America, stating that with Sanders’ help, they are showing how health care should be a right and not a privilege for Americans.
The event at the Eisenhower Executive Office building highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Biden administration to address health care issues and reduce the burden of prescription drug prices on Americans. Biden and Sanders, both octogenarians, reflected on their long history of fighting for health care reform and emphasized the need for more aggressive measures to lower drug prices. They called for expanding negotiations on drug prices beyond Medicare and implementing a cap on costs for Americans, signaling a commitment to making health care more accessible and affordable for all citizens.
Overall, the event showcased the collaboration between Biden and Sanders to push for meaningful reforms in the health care system. They highlighted the progress made in addressing prescription drug prices and called for further action to negotiate lower prices and cap costs for Americans. The event underscored the commitment of the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress to making health care a right rather than a privilege in America, and both Biden and Sanders expressed optimism about the future of health care reform in the country.
