Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Again Skimps On Details Even As He Calls High Drug Prices One Of His 'Greatest Priorities'
Modern Healthcare: Reducing Drug Prices One Of Trump's 'Greatest Priorities'
Drug prices have moved to the top of the healthcare policy agenda, at least for the president. During his first State of the Union address, President Donald Trump called reducing prescription drug prices one of his "greatest priorities," adding, "Prices will come down." The president did not offer any details on how his administration will pursue that goal. The lack of specific policy actions frustrated Democrats, including Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, ranking member of the House oversight committee's healthcare subcommittee. The Illinois Democrat wanted to see a path to draw both sides of the aisle together. (Luthi, 1/31)
Kaiser Health News: Podcast: ‘What The Health?’ The State Of The (Health) Union
In his first State of the Union Address, President Donald Trump told the American public that “one of my greatest priorities is to reduce the price of prescription drugs.” But that message could barely begin to sink in before other health news developed: The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was forced to resign Wednesday after conflict-of-interest reports. (1/31)
The Wall Street Journal: Trump Supports ‘Right To Try’ Law Expanding Access To Experimental Drugs For Terminally Ill
President Donald Trump, in his State of the Union address, gave a boost to so-called Right to Try legislation that would give terminally-ill patients greater access to experimental drugs. Public-health advocates are pushing back, characterizing the Right to Try movement as a solution to a nonexistent problem. Right to Try laws, having passed in 38 states, give access for such patients to as-yet-unproven drugs that are in clinical trials. (Burton, 1/31)
In other pharmaceutical news —
Stat: Hospitals Are Revolting Against The Generic Drug Market. Here's Why
In recent years, Robert Ripley has watched spiking drug prices menace his budget like a fast-rising flood. The longtime chief of pharmacy for Trinity Health, a Catholic chain of 93 hospitals from New York to California, said he’s never seen anything like it in his 30-plus years in the business. The eye-popping prices of new branded drugs are one issue. But even worse are the wild price hikes and sudden shortages of generics that have been available for many decades. (Ross, 2/1)
Kaiser Health News: As States Target High Drug Prices, Pharma Targets State Lawmakers
It was expected to be a perfunctory statehouse meeting — three lobbyists and a legislator discussing a proposal to educate Louisiana doctors about the price of drugs they prescribe. The bill seemed like a no-brainer in a country where even decades-old medicines can cost thousands and consumers are urged to make smart choices in buying health care. The legislation simply required pharmaceutical sales reps promoting medicines at doctors’ offices to also reveal a price. No one expected the industry scrum that materialized. (Hancock and Luthra, 2/1)
Boston Globe: Need For Radiation Sickness Drug A Sign Of Scary Times
Partner Therapeutics Inc., which was officially launched last week to find untapped uses for existing drugs, plans to announce Thursday that it has bought the global rights to Leukine, a decades-old cancer medicine. Executives at the Lexington company expect Leukine will soon win another approval, this one to treat radiation poisoning, and are betting that demand will soar globally because of escalating fears of a nuclear attack. (Saltzman, 2/1)
