The new president has signaled a desire to rein in drug prices, and a measure from his opponents aims to do so by allowing prescription imports from the Great White North.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, flanked by Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Bob Casey, Jr., Rep. Elijah Cummings, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, and Sen. Angus King speaks during a news conference Tuesday on legislation that will allow for drug importation. (BILL CLARK/CQ ROLL CALL/GETTY IMAGES).
Democrats and progressive lawmakers pressured President Donald Trump on Tuesday to support a new bill that would allow low-cost prescription drugs to be imported from Canada and other countries.
"[The president] has made promises to the American people about prescription drug prices," Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill, said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. "Now it's time for him to put up or shut up. This bill can provide Americans cheaper access to drugs. It's time for him to join with us or – in my opinion – to confess his lies to the American people. "
Booker and other Democrats said they hope Trump's statements on drug prices during his campaign and nascent presidency signal he will not only support the bill, but that the White House will encourage Republican lawmakers to do the same.
In the past, Trump has suggested allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices – a position traditionally held by Democrats – and said drug companies are "getting away with murder" on pricing, though it's unclear which specific direction he might take on reforming this area of health care. In a recent meeting with drug company executives, he also floated the idea of giving researchers faster ways of moving drugs to market.
The drug-import legislation introduced Tuesday is called the Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act and is backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., along with other co-sponsors. It has been introduced before, but lawmakers said they are particularly optimistic this time around. If passed, the Department of Health and Human Services would put forward regulations that would allow prescription drugs to be imported from Canada, and then two years later other countries could be added.
"The president's support for these ideas has been so clear that I am tempted to introduce a bill on the House side named 'The Donald Trump Drug Affordability Act,'" Cummings said during the press conference. "I think he would like that."
Trump reportedly told Cummings during inauguration festivities that he wanted to meet with him to discuss the drug pricing issue, but later blamed the congressman for failing to schedule a session with him for political reasons. Cummings contradicted Trump's account, but did say he was waiting to schedule a meeting until after a bill had been crafted. Cummings said Tuesday that a meeting would be scheduled for next week.
Lawmakers touted the latest measure as a way to increase competition in the drug market. They noted that the U.S. spends more than any other country on prescription drugs, and that Canada doesn't spend the least but still gets better prices than the U.S.
For instance, Abilify – a drug used to treat depression – costs $2,852 in the U.S. but $546 in Canada. Januvia, which treats diabetes, costs $1,121 in the U.S. and $369 in Canada.
Still, industry group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, came out strongly against Tuesday's bill, saying it raises serious concerns about patient safety.
"The bill lacks sufficient safety controls, would exacerbate threats to public health from counterfeit, adulterated or diverted medicines, and increase the burden on law enforcement to prevent unregulated medicines and other dangerous products from harming consumers," PhRMA spokeswoman Nicole Longo said.
But lawmakers said this version of the bill tackles these types of concerns. Booker, along with Sens. Bob Casey, D-Penn., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., had voted against an earlier, largely symbolic amendment similar to the bill in January, but helped write the latest version.
Booker, who is a potential 2020 presidential candidate, explained during Tuesday's press conference that he voted against the amendment because it did not contain language to address drug safety, as the current bill does.
There are some indications the bill could receive bipartisan support. In total, 13 Democrats voted against the January amendment. But Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky, along with 10 other Republicans, voted for it.
The fully drafted bill now includes provisions aimed at defining which drugs are allowed to be imported, cracking down on rogue online pharmacies and allowing the Food and Drug Administration to certify foreign sellers.
The pricing of medicines has been a growing concern in the U.S. In 2014 and 2015, spending on prescription drugs grew faster than other medical expenses, largely because of high-priced medicines used to fight the liver disease hepatitis C. Members of both parties in recent years have been vocal about their desire to rein in drug prices, and have accused pharmaceutical companies of price-gouging practices.
Sanders on Tuesday called the drug industry "perhaps the most powerful lobbying force in the U.S.," and said he expects drug manufacturers to spend millions opposing the bill even though safety concerns have been addressed.
He also quipped about the reality that food is regularly shipped to the U.S. from around the world, but not prescription drugs.
"Does anybody have any doubts that these drugs can be safe? The answer should be no," he said.
In the past, Trump has suggested allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices – a position traditionally held by Democrats – and said drug companies are "getting away with murder" on pricing, though it's unclear which specific direction he might take on reforming this area of health care. In a recent meeting with drug company executives, he also floated the idea of giving researchers faster ways of moving drugs to market.
The drug-import legislation introduced Tuesday is called the Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act and is backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., along with other co-sponsors. It has been introduced before, but lawmakers said they are particularly optimistic this time around. If passed, the Department of Health and Human Services would put forward regulations that would allow prescription drugs to be imported from Canada, and then two years later other countries could be added.
"The president's support for these ideas has been so clear that I am tempted to introduce a bill on the House side named 'The Donald Trump Drug Affordability Act,'" Cummings said during the press conference. "I think he would like that."
Trump reportedly told Cummings during inauguration festivities that he wanted to meet with him to discuss the drug pricing issue, but later blamed the congressman for failing to schedule a session with him for political reasons. Cummings contradicted Trump's account, but did say he was waiting to schedule a meeting until after a bill had been crafted. Cummings said Tuesday that a meeting would be scheduled for next week.
Lawmakers touted the latest measure as a way to increase competition in the drug market. They noted that the U.S. spends more than any other country on prescription drugs, and that Canada doesn't spend the least but still gets better prices than the U.S.
For instance, Abilify – a drug used to treat depression – costs $2,852 in the U.S. but $546 in Canada. Januvia, which treats diabetes, costs $1,121 in the U.S. and $369 in Canada.
Still, industry group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, came out strongly against Tuesday's bill, saying it raises serious concerns about patient safety.
"The bill lacks sufficient safety controls, would exacerbate threats to public health from counterfeit, adulterated or diverted medicines, and increase the burden on law enforcement to prevent unregulated medicines and other dangerous products from harming consumers," PhRMA spokeswoman Nicole Longo said.
But lawmakers said this version of the bill tackles these types of concerns. Booker, along with Sens. Bob Casey, D-Penn., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., had voted against an earlier, largely symbolic amendment similar to the bill in January, but helped write the latest version.
Booker, who is a potential 2020 presidential candidate, explained during Tuesday's press conference that he voted against the amendment because it did not contain language to address drug safety, as the current bill does.
There are some indications the bill could receive bipartisan support. In total, 13 Democrats voted against the January amendment. But Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky, along with 10 other Republicans, voted for it.
The fully drafted bill now includes provisions aimed at defining which drugs are allowed to be imported, cracking down on rogue online pharmacies and allowing the Food and Drug Administration to certify foreign sellers.
The pricing of medicines has been a growing concern in the U.S. In 2014 and 2015, spending on prescription drugs grew faster than other medical expenses, largely because of high-priced medicines used to fight the liver disease hepatitis C. Members of both parties in recent years have been vocal about their desire to rein in drug prices, and have accused pharmaceutical companies of price-gouging practices.
Sanders on Tuesday called the drug industry "perhaps the most powerful lobbying force in the U.S.," and said he expects drug manufacturers to spend millions opposing the bill even though safety concerns have been addressed.
He also quipped about the reality that food is regularly shipped to the U.S. from around the world, but not prescription drugs.
"Does anybody have any doubts that these drugs can be safe? The answer should be no," he said.
