President Donald Trump’s unconventional plan to lower prescription drug prices is being met with a skeptical eye from Republicans as Congress places a greater focus on drug pricing ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump’s plan is to establish “most favored nation” pricing to bring U.S. prescription drug pricing more in line with what other countries pay, part of a push for broader health care legislation from Congress. Trump didn’t wait for Congress or traditional rulemaking, taking matters into his own hands by striking individual deals with drug companies to lower their prices, largely using the threat of tariffs as leverage.
Now he wants Congress to codify what he’s done. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz came to the Hill late last month to pitch Senate Finance Committee Republicans on the president’s health care plan, of which drug pricing is a major part.
