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DRUG TEST

Few teeth in Trump’s prescription to reduce drug prices

President Donald Trump speaks during an event about prescription drug prices with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in the Rose Garden of the White
House in Washington, Friday, May 11, 2018.
Associated Press
By MATTHEW PERRONE and prescription drugs for the transparency in the notori- cause the U.S. government so people can buy more
JILL COLVIN American people.” But it ously complex drug pric- doesn’t regulate medicine drugs without prescriptions.
Associated Press does not include his cam- ing system. But most of prices, unlike most other — Reconsidering how
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- paign pledge to use the the measures could take developed countries. Medicare pays for some
dent Donald Trump’s long- massive buying power of months or years to imple- Trump’s list of 50 proposals, high-priced drugs adminis-
promised plan to bring the government’s Medi- ment, and none would dubbed American Patients tered at doctors’ offices.
down drug prices, unveiled care program to directly stop drugmakers from set- First, includes: Those ideas avoid a di-
Friday, would mostly spare negotiate lower prices for ting sky-high initial prices. — A potential requirement rect confrontation with the
the pharmaceutical indus- seniors. That idea has long “There are some things in for drugmakers to disclose powerful pharmaceutical
try he previously accused been supported by Demo- this set of proposals that the cost of their medicines lobby, but they may also
of “getting away with mur- crats but is a non-starter can move us in the direc- in television advertise- underwhelm Americans
der.” Instead he focuses on for drugmakers and most tion of lower prices for some ments. seeking relief from escalat-
private competition and Republicans in Congress. people,” said David Mitch- — Banning a pharmacist ing prescription costs.
more openness to reduce Democratic Rep. Lloyd ell, founder of Patients for “gag rule,” which prevents Democrats pounced on
America’s prescription Doggett of Texas dismissed Affordable Drugs. “At the druggists from telling cus- Trump for not pursuing di-
pain. Trump’s plan as “a sugar- same time, it is not clear at tomers when they can save rect Medicare negotia-
In Rose Garden remarks coated nothing pill.” all how they are going to money by paying cash in- tions, an idea he champi-
at the White House, Trump The administration will pur- lower list prices.” stead of using their insur- oned before reaching the
called his plan the “most sue a raft of old and new Drugmakers generally ance. — Speeding up the White House.
sweeping action in his- measures intended to im- can charge as much as approval process for over-
tory to lower the price of prove competition and the market will bear be- the-counter medications Continued on Page 3