Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Perspectives: To Pharma, Trump Starting To Look Like Boy Who Cried Wolf
Bloomberg: Trump Is Losing His Ability To Scare Biotech
For much of the past half year or so, President Donald Trump was the biotech bogeyman, set to impose draconian price curbs and crush industry profits. His fear factor is rapidly diminishing. I've previously suggested biotech investors don't take Trump's pricing threats seriously enough. But the wild inconsistency of his stances, along with Republican party divisions, have combined to make real price curbs less likely. Trump's tweets are still dangerous, but it appears increasingly likely he's just crying wolf. (Max Nisen, 3/10)
The Hill: Drug Costs Are Burning Holes Into Our Pockets — We Can Fix It
Each day, Americans are forced to make difficult decisions about their health. The high price of drugs has created an unfortunate reality — too often for the most vulnerable among us, those decisions are not about wellness but rather choosing between basic necessities and taking their daily prescription medications. Many need those drugs to survive. (Patricia A. Maryland, 3/9)
Statesman: Tackle Drug Monopolies To Bring Medication Prices Down
The news that President Donald Trump takes the anti-baldness drug Propecia has temporarily bumped his war against the pharma sector from the front pages. Before his doctor offered this juicy tidbit, the focus was on Trump’s comment that drug companies were “getting away with murder” and his threat to authorize Medicare to negotiate lower prices. Wall Street took Trump’s remarks seriously, causing pharma stocks to tank. Pharma CEOs did too. Several pledged to limit future price hikes to 10 percent per year. Not all pharma execs were cowed, though. (Charles Silver, 3/12)
KRWG: Lower Drug Prices Would Help New Mexico Taxpayers
As New Mexico struggles to cope with declining tax revenues and cuts to classrooms and health care, it is imperative for legislators to find new ways improve the state’s bottom line. That is why it is time to enact innovative policies to rein in the soaring cost of prescription drugs. It places a growing burden on our state budget each passing year. (State Sen. Jeff Steinborn, 3/14)
