Posted by Michael Wonder on 03 May 2018
White House drug price initiative to include negotiation tools, list prices, Azar says
2 May 2018 - HHS Secretary Alex Azar revealed Wednesday that the White House's impending drug pricing strategy will include strengthening the federal government's ability to negotiate with drugmakers and address high list prices.
Speaking to the World Health Care Congress in Washington, Azar said HHS is focused on finding solutions for the "lack of negotiating tools" that lead to government programs and seniors overpaying for drugs and out-of-pocket costs and "foreign governments free-riding off of American investment in innovation."
Azar said the White House's sweeping initiative will build on the proposal outlined in President Donald Trump's 2019 budget but that the president "wants to go further."
