White House Sends Drug Pricing Wish List to Congress

President Trump sent a list of “principles” to lawmakers outlining what the administration wants to see in a drug pricing bill as a Senate bill with some of the president’s ideas moves toward passage this spring. 

The administration called for a cap on Medicare Part D beneficiary annual and monthly out-of-pocket pharmacy expenses.

The White House has previously endorsed S. 2543, a bipartisan proposal introduced by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), but the new White House wish list goes beyond the scope of that bill. The Grassley-Wyden bill only provides for an annual cap on Part D expenses.

The administration’s proposed budget for fiscal 2021 projects that HHS will save $135 billion over 10 years as a result of drug pricing reform.