Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Perspectives: Drug-Pricing Policies Of Biden, Trump; Medical Innovation
Forbes: Biden And Trump Drug Pricing Policies Would Decimate Biotech, Drive Innovation To China
Both parties (Republicans, Democrats) would replace today’s market-driven system, which bases prices on the value of the product to the consumer, with controlled prices tied to those in countries where governments set reimbursement rates substantially lower than here. The resulting drop in revenue for the pharmaceutical industry would kill innovation in the U.S. and Europe and cripple the biotech community. (Standish Fleming, 10/22)
USA Today: President Trump's Broken Health Care Promises Highlighted Amid COVID
During the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump promised "great health care" for any American who is sick, and at affordable prices. “We’ll be terminating Obamacare and we’ll be replacing it with so many different options, but you’ll have great health care at a fraction, a fraction of the cost and it’ll be great,” Trump said from the Robarts Arena stage in Sarasota, Florida, during one of the last rallies of his campaign. But nonpartisan experts say health care costs have continued to rise during Trump’s administration, raising concerns about the affordability of care when it is most needed – in the midst of a global pandemic. (Zac Anderson, 10/27)
Capjournal.Com: No Relief From High Drug Prices In The Near Future
If you were hoping that this was going to be the year of government action to lower prescription drug prices, I’m here to say that is not going to happen – even though the House of Representatives passed far-reaching legislation almost a year ago that would allow Medicare to begin negotiating drug prices for beneficiaries. Recall that the 2003 law that made possible a prescription drug benefit for seniors prohibits the government from negotiating with drug companies in order to lower prices. The Senate has not taken up the bill, and Congress will have to start over in the next session. (Trudy Lieberman, 10/21)
The Hill: Lost Cures And Innovation, Too High A Price For Democrats' Drug Pricing Proposals
Democrats and Republicans alike can agree on one thing: prescription drug prices are unacceptably high. Predictably, however, we cannot seem to agree on a proper solution to this urgent issue. The Trump administration has, thankfully, kickstarted efforts and approved record numbers of generic drugs while simultaneously lowering overall prescription drug prices by 13 percent. It is our responsibility in Congress to keep this momentum going and establish permanent fixes to the current pharmaceutical pricing standards. Despite the efforts of Republicans to make bipartisan progress to reform the prescription drug standards, our Democrat colleagues refuse to collaborate. (Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., 10/26)
PennLive.com: Innovation And Transparency, Not Price Fixing, Will Lower Prescription Drug Prices
For decades, America has led in medical innovation, producing lifesaving cures and treatments for the world’s most debilitating diseases. Unfortunately, these treatments have come at too high a cost, forcing many Americans to choose between providing for our families or purchasing medication. Even during these hyper-partisan times in Washington, addressing the high cost of prescription drugs must rise above partisan politics; the health of too many Americans is at risk. (U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., 10/26)
