Posted by Michael Wonder on 15 May 2018
Trump’s big campaign promise on drug prices wouldn’t have worked, Health and Human Services secretary says
14 May 2018 - Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar Monday defended the Trump administration's strategy to lower drug prices against critiques that President Trump has abandoned his popular campaign promise to use the government's bargaining clout to negotiate on behalf of Medicare.
Azar said at a briefing that instead of “trite, gimmicky political proposals” on direct Medicare negotiation, Trump's plan would increase the ability of commercial prescription drug plans to negotiate on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries.
He added that there are widespread misperceptions about the effects of direct government negotiation on drug prices, which, he said, would achieve minimal savings — unless the government were willing to deny access to certain medicines or set drug prices.
