The House Ways and Means Committee heard several testimonies on proposals to lower drug prices in the U.S., according to Regulatory Focus.
Four notes:
1. Rising prescription drug prices have been a source of hot debate in the political realm, with government agencies, lawmakers and the Trump administration all pitching ideas to solve the problem.
2. Ideas have included allowing prescription drug importation from Canada; allowing Medicare Part D program representatives to negotiate directly with drugmakers; setting an international pricing index, and reducing the barriers to generic entry into the marketplace. HHS also recently proposed a challenge to paying rebates to pharmacy benefit managers.
3. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, a ranking member of the committee, backed Medicare Part B and D reforms but forcefully objected to the government negotiating drug prices, saying "When Washington negotiates in government-run healthcare programs, taxpayers often end up bearing the cost, while Americans can be denied access to the most innovative breakthrough medicines available to others in the private market."
4. Mark Miller, executive vice president of healthcare at Arnold Ventures, told the committee that moving to a flat fee-per-prescription model for Medicare Part B could help to curb some spending.
Read the full report here.