Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Perspectives: Drugs From Canada; 'Trump Card'
The Detroit News: Trump Offers False Hope With Canadian Drug Plan
On September 24, the Trump administration finalized its plan to allow for the importation of prescription drugs from foreign markets. Under the plan, states could develop proposals for federal government approval to facilitate the importation of certain drugs from Canada. The Trump administration plan is politically motivated and provides a false hope to voters that the plan would lead to lower drug costs and that the drugs would be safe. (Kent Kaiser, 10/15)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: No, Canada, The Difficulty Of Importing Canadian Drug Prices To Pa.
For some in U.S. and Pennsylvania politics, “O Canada” is an anthem of health care policy. Many Canadian prescription drug prices are lower than America’s, and the idea of bringing those lower prices across the 49th parallel — or simply across Lake Erie — appeals to many lawmakers. It may work in Pennsylvania, but not for long. (Robert Graboyes, 10/20)
Center For American Progress: Too Little, Too Late: Trump’s Prescription Drug Executive Order Does Not Help Patients
On September 13, President Donald Trump issued his “Lowering Drug Prices by Putting America First” executive order, his most recent attempt at tricking the public into believing that his administration will make meaningful changes to prescription drug prices. As usual, the president tried to circumvent Congress and give the appearance of making significant changes through a rushed and lackluster executive order. This column provides an overview of the Trump administration’s attempts to use executive authority to appear to take action on lowering drug prices and explains how this most recent order is nothing but another example of bluster on prescription drug prices without delivering for the American people. (Thomas Waldrop and Nicole Rapfogel, 10/15)
Greenfield (Mass.) Recorder: President Plays “Trump Card” With Seniors
On Sept. 24, Donald Trump held a press conference in Charlotte, N.C. to present the media with his new America First Health Care Plan. Trump signed an executive order outlining the three pillars of his plan — including a plan to lower the price of prescription drugs — a promise he made as a candidate four years ago. Under Trump’s drug plan, “we will pay the exact same price as other countries … we will be matching the lowest price with what’s now many times the highest price, and we won’t pay a penny more.…This will lead to a very large savings for American families and plummeting drug prices.” (Al Norman, 10/16)
