Bill Would Require Drug Prices to Match International Median

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) plan to introduce a bill that would limit U.S. prescription drug prices to the median prices in five other nations.

The Prescription Drug Price Relief Act, which Khanna and Sanders plan to introduce when Congress reconvenes, would require the HHS Secretary to ensure Americans pay no more for branded drugs than their median price in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan.

The measure would give the federal government the power to ignore patents or market exclusivities and approve cheaper generic versions if branded drugmakers refuse to cut prices as required.