Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Perspectives: Despite What Trump Says, Insulin Isn't Affordable
(Minneapolis) Star Tribune: No, Mr. President, The Insulin Affordability Problem Isn't Solved
That the price of insulin came up during last week's presidential debate is a testament to the hard work of advocates such as Nicole Smith-Holt. The Twin Cities woman lost her 26-year-old son, Alec, in 2017. He died after trying to ration the medication he needed to manage his diabetes. His death galvanized his mother and others, putting an unprecedented spotlight on insulin's high cost in the United States. (10/5)
Los Angeles Times: Trump Says Insulin Is So Cheap, It's 'Like Water.' It Isn't
There was much to dislike in this week’s presidential debate — the lies, the rudeness, the inability of the White House incumbent to rise above the level of a cranky kindergartner. For me, the low point came not when President Trump refused to condemn white supremacy, and not when he tore into the sons of Democratic candidate Joe Biden, but when he once again sought to convince the American people that he had single-handedly lowered the cost of prescription drugs. (David Lazarus, 10/1)
Tampa Bay Times: Trump’s Empty Words On Prescription Drug Prices
When it comes to lowering the cost of prescription drugs, there is all too often more smoke than fire. Let me give you a specific example. President Donald Trump recently directed the secretary of Health and Human Services to “take appropriate steps” to “test a payment model” for prescription drugs. He quickly tweeted that the order will “ensure that our country gets the same low prices Big Pharma gives to other countries.” This is just not true. His math is off. How far off? For every 100 Medicare beneficiaries, only one has a chance of seeing any change under his proposal. (Richard G. Frank, 10/3)
New York Daily News: Trump’s Prescription Drug Snake Oil
Last night during the first presidential debate, President Trump said of his actions on health care: “There’s nothing symbolic. I’m cutting drug prices. I’m going with favored nations, which no president has the courage to do because you’re going against Big Pharma. Drug prices will be going down 80 or 90%.” That is just another lie. Trump has made many promises to take on drug companies, including an executive order a couple weeks ago. However, he’s consistently failed to match these promises with action. Recently he’s proposed a bribe to seniors — $200 discount cards for medications. It’s not clear if it’s legal, or if it will even happen, making this promise as trustworthy as a Trump University degree. (Laura Packard, 9/30)
