2020 Contenders In Something Of An Arms Race To Take On ‘Big Pharma’ And Drug Prices
Drug pricing is a hot topic that voters care deeply about, and many of the 2020 Democratic hopefuls want to get ahead of their competitors with splashy bills taking on the pharmaceutical industry. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is just the latest to announce legislation that would tackle the high prices, which would include a measure pegging U.S. prescription drug prices to the median price from five countries where drug costs are typically far lower.
Stat:
Democrats Eyeing 2020 Put An Early Spotlight On Drug Prices
As they jostle to position themselves for 2020, many Democratic presidential hopefuls have suddenly zeroed in on a narrow policy target: prescription drug prices. Sen. Bernie Sanders called his first press conference since the midterms not to discuss President Trump’s quest for a wall or tout universalized health coverage, but to unveil a proposal to lower drug prices that mirrors one of Trump’s own. Sen. Cory Booker dialed up his own rhetoric to campaign-trail levels, decrying high drug prices as “a stain on the very idea of America.” The House Oversight Committee, too, set drug prices atop its own agenda, scheduling a hearing on that issue that will occur more than a week before it calls former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to testify. (Facher, 1/11)
Reuters:
Sen. Sanders, Rep. Cummings Introduce Bill To Lower U.S. Drug Prices
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Elijah Cummings introduced legislation on Thursday aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs for American consumers, critiquing President Donald Trump administration’s efforts to curb medicine prices. (Abutaleb, 1/10)
The Hill:
Sanders, Dems Unveil Sweeping Bills To Lower Drug Prices
“The people of our country pay by far, not even close, the highest prices in the world for the prescription drugs that they need,” Sanders said at a press conference. “That has got to end, and the legislation that we are supporting will do just that.” (Sullivan, 1/10)
CQ:
Drug Importation Emerges As First Big Bipartisan Price Plan
Major parts of the proposal likely won’t advance in this Congress, but there could be bipartisan, bicameral support for one part: importing lower-cost drugs from other countries. That’s because an influential Republican senator, Finance Chairman Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, released his own drug importation draft bill on Wednesday and the Trump administration wants to reduce drug prices. The unnumbered Grassley bill, co-sponsored by Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar, would require the administration to develop regulations for the importation of drugs from Canada. The plan would require the administration to certify which Canadian pharmacies are eligible to send drugs across the border. Importing any controlled substances would be forbidden. (Siddons, 1/10)
The Hill:
Drug Prices To Take Center Stage In First House Oversight Hearing
The House Oversight and Reform Committee will hold a hearing to examine drug price increases later this month, the committee’s first since Democrats took control of the House. In a statement, Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said the hearing will serve to launch a “broad review of the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs.” (Weixel, 1/10)
Modern Healthcare:
Congress Revives Flurry Of Drug Pricing Legislation
Lawmakers rushed into the drug pricing arena this week as they revived a bundle of legislation and oversight talks, signaling they want to put manufacturers in the hot seat when it comes to addressing healthcare costs. Medicare negotiation was at the forefront of Democratic messaging with an unexpected Republican boost. Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) joined Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) to re-introduce legislation to allow the HHS secretary to directly barter with manufacturers on behalf of Medicare Part D. Rooney is the sole Republican to co-sponsor the bill so far. (Luthi, 1/10)
The Associated Press:
Liberals Dare Trump To Back Their Bills Lowering Drug Prices
Challenging President Donald Trump to make good on his pledge to cut prescription drug prices, congressional liberals proposed legislation Thursday to bring U.S. prices in line with the much lower costs in other countries. The Democratic bills stand little chance of becoming law in a divided government. But the effort could put Republicans on the defensive by echoing Trump's pledge to force drugmakers to cut prices. (1/10)
Meanwhile —
The Wall Street Journal:
Senator Collins Presses HHS To Reform Drug Rebate System
The impact that rebates can have on prescription drug prices is drawing more scrutiny of the practice. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, has asked the Department of Health and Human Services to take action on the Trump administration’s pledge to change drug rebates, saying legislation may be necessary to reform the system. (Hopkins, 1/10)