 Health Care |
Health Care |
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House Dems look to double down on drug price negotiation |
House Democrats introduced legislation on Wednesday to allow Medicare to negotiate the price of dozens of drugs, effectively doubling down on the drug price negotiation provisions included in the Inflation Reduce Act (IRA).
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Democratic Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (N.J.), Richard Neal (Mass.) and Bobby Scott (Va.) — ranking members on key House committees — introduced the Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act.
The bill would extend drug price negotiations to include all Americans with private insurance coverage and allow inflation rebates to apply to this group as well. The lawmakers estimated the latter provision would save $40 billion over the next 10 years.
On top of these actions, the legislation would also increase the number of prescription drugs chosen for negotiation every year from 20 to 50. The bill as it stands would have these provisions go into effect beginning in 2029.
The bill is unlikely to advance in a Republican-held House and the federal government's existing negotiation power is currently being challenged by the pharmaceutical industry, but it is a strong indication of Democratic priorities should they retake the House.
The trio previously worked alongside Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in introducing the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act in 2019, which included provisions that later popped up in the IRA.
"Our economy bears the burden of high prescription drug costs. Employer-provided health plans spend billions of dollars every year to cover the cost of drugs," Scott said in a statement. "The American people have also made it clear that they want Congress to take action."
The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program established by the IRA that the lawmakers seek to build off of will need to survive the current wave of legal challenges it faces from drug company trade groups.
As of last week, there are five lawsuits challenging the federal negotiation process across different jurisdictions, and one plaintiff has already asked the program be blocked from operating for the time being.
The first 10 drugs chosen for negotiation are expected to be announced by the start of September, and drug manufacturers will have until Oct. 1 to send in agreements to the negotiation process.
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Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching tomorrow: |
- DEA Administrator Anne Milgram will testify at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing.
- Rahul Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, will testify before the House Oversight Committee.
- The House Oversight select subcommittee on the pandemic holds a hearing on vaccine mandates.
- A House Judiciary subcommittee holds a hearing on gender affirming care.
- A House Oversight subcommittee holds a hearing on lack of hemp regulation.
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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GOP nominee says he would renew push for Medicaid work requirement if elected governor in Kentucky |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican candidate Daniel Cameron said Wednesday that he would move quickly as Kentucky’s governor to revive a push to require some able-bodied adults to work in exchange for health care coverage through Medicaid. If he succeeds in unseating Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear later this year, Cameron said his administration … |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- NC DHHS moving forward with Medicaid expansion while waiting on state budget deal (News & Observer)
- Nearly 28,000 Iowans have been disenrolled from Medicaid. Here's why (Des Moines Register)
- Multiple sewage discharges into inner Boston Harbor prompt public health warnings (Boston.com)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) froze for almost 20 seconds while delivering his opening statement at a leadership press conference … Read more |
| Former President Trump says he would put an end to Europe requiring entry fees for U.S. travelers if elected to the White House next year. "Wow! … Read more |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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