PhRMA Says $80 Billion Agreement Unchanged, But It Keeps Open Mind

PhRMA is denying that its $80 billion deal with the White House to help finance healthcare overhaul legislation has been increased. The trade group’s denial follows a statement from Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) that an anticipated increase may have led Senators to vote against his amendment allowing for the reimportation of prescription drugs. “No one has asked us to date to provide any additional funding,” Ken Johnson, senior vice president at PhRMA, said. “We made an $80 billion ironclad commitment to help make healthcare reform a reality back in June, and we have never, at any time, retrenched from that position. That said, we will continue to keep an open mind as the Senate moves toward a final vote.”
Washington Drug Letter