8 January 2019 - House Democrats and one Republican have introduced a bill that would let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices, legislation that comes amid pharmaceutical hikes in the new year.

The bill would give more power to the Health and Human Services secretary to regulate Medicare Part D, the part of the program that covers drugs seniors get at the pharmacy, an arrangement advocated by progressives and at times by President Trump, but opposed by the pharmaceutical industry and many Republicans.

Currently the government is prohibited from directly setting prices, though the system operates by letting private insurers and middlemen known as pharmacy benefits managers negotiate.

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