Page 3 - aruba-today-20201121

A3
U.S. NEWS Saturday 21 November 2020

Trump makes late-term bid to lower prescription drug costs

By RICARDO ALONSO- while corporate insiders en-
ZALDIVAR rich themselves.
Associated Press Addressing the prospect
WASHINGTON (AP) — Try- of legal battles, Azar said
ing to close out major un- "we feel that both regula-
finished business, the Trump tions are extremely strong
administration issued regu- and any industry challeng-
lations Friday that could ing them is declaring them-
lower the prices Americans selves at odds with Ameri-
pay for many prescription can patients and President
drugs. Trump's commitment to
But in a time of political un- lowering out-of-pocket
certainty, it's hard to say costs."
whether the rules will with- The international pricing
stand expected legal chal- rule would cover many
lenges from the pharma- cancer drugs and other
ceutical industry or wheth- medications delivered by
er the incoming Biden infusion or injection in a
administration will accept, doctor's office.
amend or try to roll them It would apply to 50 medi-
back entirely. cations that account for
"The drug companies don't the highest spending under
like me too much. But we Medicare's "Part B" benefit
had to do it," President President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the briefing room at the White House for outpatient care. Ironi-
Donald Trump said in an- in Washington, Friday, Nov. 20, 2020. Associated Press cally, the legal authority
nouncing the new policy for Trump's action comes
at the White House. "I just for Medicare recipients 2022. idea, objected to by most from the Affordable Care
hope they keep it. I hope through lower copays. It The industry is considering Republicans. Instead Trump Act, the Obama-era health
they have the courage to would take effect Jan. 1. "all options to stop this reck- began pursuing changes care overhaul he's still try-
keep it," he added, noting — require drugmakers, for less attack on the compa- through regulations. ing to repeal.
pressure from drug compa- brand name pharmacy nies working around the He also backed a biparti- The rule also changes how
ny lobbyists. medications, to give Medi- clock to beat COVID-19," san Senate bill that would hospitals and doctors are
The two finalized rules, long care enrollees rebates that the Pharmaceutical Re- have capped what Medi- paid for administering the
in the making, would: now go to insurers and search and Manufacturers care recipients with high drugs, in an effort to try to
— tie what Medicare pays middlemen called phar- of America said in a state- bills pay for medications, remove incentives for using
for medications adminis- macy benefit managers. ment. while generally limiting higher cost medications.
tered in a doctor's office Insurers that deliver Medi- Trump came into office price increases. Ambitious Relying on international
to the lowest price paid care's "Part D" prescription accusing pharmaceuti- in scope, the legislation prices to lower U.S. costs is
among a group of other benefit say that would raise cal companies of "getting from Sens. Chuck Grassley, an approach also favored
economically advanced premiums. The nonpartisan away with murder" and R-Iowa, and Ron Wyden, D- by Democrats, including
countries. That's called the Congressional Budget Of- complaining that other Ore., did not get a full Sen- President-elect Joe Biden.
"most favored nations" ap- fice estimates it would in- countries whose govern- ate vote. But Democrats would go
proach. It is adamantly crease taxpayer costs by ments set drug prices were Health and Human Servic- much further, authorizing
opposed by critics aligned $177 billion over 10 years. taking advantage of Amer- es Secretary Alex Azar, a Medicare to use lower pric-
with the pharmaceutical The Trump administration icans. former drug company ex- es from overseas to wrest
industry, who liken it to so- disputes that and says its As a candidate in 2016, ecutive, said the rules will industry concessions for all
cialism. The administration rule could potentially result Trump advocated for Medi- "break this model where expensive medications, not
estimates it could save $28 in 30% savings for patients. care to negotiate prices. As patients suffer, where pric- just those administered in
billion over seven years It would take effect Jan. 1, president, he dropped that es increase every year," clinical settings.q

Lieutenant gov’s flags fly in the face of some PA lawmakers

By MARC LEVY In an interview, the irrev- flying them." The Republi-
Associated Press erent Fetterman said he can-controlled Legislature
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — hadn't known about the has blocked legislation on
Pennsylvania's lieutenant provision until told by a re- both fronts. Fetterman's
governor, Democrat John porter Friday. marijuana flag flies year-
Fetterman, may have got- But, he said, he had no round, while he flies LGBTQ-
ten under somebody's skin. intention of taking them and transgender-rights
A provision slipped into down — unless lawmakers flags during Pride Month in
lame-duck budget legisla- pass legislation to legalize June.
tion Friday would ban flags marijuana for recreational "Are they going to send the
not approved by lawmak- use and make it illegal for gay pride police to come
ers from flying at the state employers and others to and seize them? I didn't
Capitol — such as the pro- discriminate against some- know we had that division
marijuana legalization and one because of the sexual in the state police," Fetter-
LGBTQ- and transgender- orientation or gender iden- man said. A spokesperson In this Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 file photo, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov.
rights flags that Fetterman tity. for House Majority Leader John Fetterman speaks at a news conference in the governor's
hangs from his second-floor "I would be delighted to Kerry Benninghoff, R-Cen- Capitol reception room in Harrisburg, Pa.
outdoor balcony that over- take them down if they tre, would not say whether Associated Press
looks the building's broad give us that," Fetterman it had anything to do with "it has to do with providing for what is displayed on the
front steps. said. "That's the reason I'm Fetterman's flags, only that for uniformity and decorum outside of the Capitol." q