Call To Address High Drug Prices Threatens Passage Of Cures Bill
“There is no justification for moving forward with legislation that provides substantial benefits to the drug industry without asking for something in return," liberal groups wrote to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. It's unlikely, though, that Republicans would agree to such additions.
The Hill:
Cures Bill In Jeopardy Amid Drug Pricing Push
A medical cures bill is in jeopardy following congressional Democrats’ push for it to address high drug prices. A coalition of liberal groups has come out against passage of the measure this year, further putting its future in doubt. A spokesperson for Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee released a statement Thursday saying the bill, known as 21st Century Cures, “must include” policies to address high drug prices, raising questions about whether Republicans would agree to such additions and help pass the bill this year. (Sullivan, 10/27)
Morning Consult:
House Democrats Still Working Toward Agreement On Cures
House Democrats aren’t ruling out advancing medical innovation legislation before the end of the year after about a dozen left-learning groups this week urged them to delay the bill. “We continue to work closely with our Republican and Senate counterparts to find a way to proceed with a final Cures bill that Democrats can support,” a Democratic spokesman for the Energy and Commerce Committee said. “Any final bill must include policies that facilitate access to affordable drugs and do not exacerbate rising drug prices in this country while also allowing for innovation to help treat diseases.” “The final bill also must include Democratic funding priorities like the Vice President’s Cancer Moonshot program,” the spokesman added. (McIntire, 10/27)
