Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Bill Would Aim To Curb High Drug Prices By Triggering Competition Through Generics
A powerful House lawmaker said he would push for legislation to stymie drug price-gouging by encouraging development of generic copies, after attending a meeting at the White House Tuesday with drug-company executives. Rep. Greg Walden (R., Ore.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced at a hearing Thursday his support for a bill that was introduced last year largely with Democrat support but then languished. (Rockoff, 2/2)
The bill, which mirrors a similar effort that was introduced last year but languished, would provide incentives to drug makers to develop generics when there is a lack of competition or a shortage exists. The bill would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to review an application for a drug within six months and expedite inspection of any facility that would make the medicine. (Silverman, 2/2)
"Specifically the bill will require the [Food and Drug Administration] to prioritize, expedite and review generic applications of drug products that are currently in shortage, or where there are few manufacturers on the market," Walden said. (Hellmann, 2/2)
鈥淧resident Trump made it clear in the White House meeting I attended with him and Vice President Pence: He wants competition that will bring lower drug prices and that is precisely what this measure will accomplish,鈥 Walden said at an Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing, referring to a White House meeting with pharmaceutical executives. (McIntire, 2/2)
Drug companies often offer coupons or vouchers to take the sting out of certain medications' high price tags. But one Democratic lawmaker says聽such offers actually contribute to high聽healthcare costs 鈥 and is proposing legislation to limit their use. Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) has introduced a measure that would prohibit the use of coupons for medications when there are cheaper drug options available. (Mason, 2/2)
Previous California Healthline coverage:聽
And聽more and more states are trying to聽protect patients when insurers want to raise medication prices or cease coverage in the middle of the year聽鈥
[M]ore states are adopting policies that prevent insurers from ceasing to cover a medication in the middle of the year, when a patient is still locked in to a particular plan, unless there is a good medical reason for doing so. The laws also limit midyear increases in what patients must pay for a drug. In the last two years, California and Nevada have adopted such rules. Florida is considering and Tennessee is expected to consider similar legislation this year, and Massachusetts has created a commission to explore the idea. (Ollove, 2/2)
