Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump, Democratic Lawmakers Discuss Bill To Allow Medicare To Negotiate Drug Prices
The Washington Post: Two Democratic Congressmen Say Trump Wants To Support Their Medicare Drug-Price Effort
Two Democratic congressmen say President Trump told them privately Wednesday that he would support their bill to allow the government to negotiate on behalf of Medicare when buying prescription drugs. After a nearly hour-long meeting with Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Reps. Elijah E. Cummings (Md.) and Peter Welch (Vt.) said they had procured the president's support for their measure. (Johnson, 3/8)
Stat: Trump, Cummings Discuss Bill To Allow Medicare To Negotiate Drug Prices
A bill to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices may be put forward in Congress within two or three weeks, legislators said after a closed-door meeting with President Trump. The outcome of the meeting between Trump and Representative Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) solidifies a stated aim for both politicians: Lower drug prices by letting Medicare negotiate with drug makers. (Sheridan, 3/8)
Kaiser Health News: Trump, Dems Look For Common Ground On Drug Prices
For years, congressional Democrats have tried to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices for millions of beneficiaries. Now, they believe they have a not-so-secret weapon: President Donald Trump. On Wednesday, U.S. Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) met privately for about an hour with Trump and newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to discuss ways to combat high drug prices. (Tribble, 3/9)
The Wall Street Journal: Democrats Say Trump Agreed To Pursue Authority To Negotiate Drug Prices
President Donald Trump told a pair of House Democrats he wants to work with them to allow the government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for discounts on drugs, the Democrats said. Sitting behind his desk, with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price the only other White House official present, Mr. Trump used the meeting to talk about how the government, with its buying power, could negotiate for lower prices and a better deal for the taxpayer, the lawmakers at the meeting said. (Hughes, 3/8)
