Biotech Values

[Titan V]

The Fight Trump Faces Over Drug Prices
https://nyti.ms/2kldhBK

Polls show that the public is in favor of doing away with a legislative provision that prohibits the federal government from negotiating directly with pharmaceutical companies for drugs that are paid for by Medicare, the government health care program for people who are over 65 or have disabilities.

Removing that prohibition is a favorite cause of liberal politicians like Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, but it has been opposed by the pharmaceutical industry and Republicans, including Representative Tom Price of Georgia, the nominee for secretary of health and human services.

Mr. Price declined to say at a confirmation hearing last Wednesday whether he supported Mr. Trump’s position, and Democratic senators are likely to question him again on the issue when he appears before the Senate Finance Committee for another hearing on Tuesday.

Whether freeing the government to negotiate on drug prices would lower costs, however, is anything but clear. And its chances of passing a Republican-led Congress are even less so.