The Trump Administration has taken enormous steps towards lowering the cost of prescription drug prices in America, reflecting the historic commitments by both President Trump and Secretary Azar to put American patients first. In three different actions, the Administration has worked towards implementing President Trump’s July 24, 2020 Executive Order on “Lowering Prices for Patients by Eliminating Kickbacks to Middlemen;” cutting down on foreign freeriding through the Most Favored Nation Model; and announced the end of the Food and Drug Administration’s Unapproved Drugs Initiative (UDI), a program that drug companies had used to jack up prices on older drugs.
The Trump Administration finalized a rule to bring drug discounts directly to seniors at the pharmacy counter and eliminate the current system of drug rebates to middlemen.
- HHS Finalizes Rule to Bring Drug Discounts Directly to Seniors at the Pharmacy Counter
- Fact Sheet: Trump Administration Finalizes Proposal to Lower Drug Costs by Targeting Backdoor Rebates and Encouraging Direct Discounts to Patients
- Secretary Azar Confirmation In Response to Executive Order on Lowering Prices for Patients by Eliminating Kickbacks to Middlemen
The Trump Administration also announced the Most Favored Nation Model, a prescription drug payment model to put American patients first.
- Trump Administration Announces Prescription Drug Payment Model to Put American Patients First
- FACT SHEET: Most Favored Nation Model for Medicare Part B Drugs and Biologicals Interim Final Rule with Comment Period
Additionally, HHS announced a notice published in the Federal Register announced the withdrawal of guidance documents issued as part of the Unapproved Drugs Initiative.
- Statement from HHS Chief of Staff Brian Harrison on Unapproved Drugs Initiative
- Read the Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Department of Health and Human Services’ Announcement on the Unapproved Drugs Initiative – PDF*
Here is a fact sheet on all of the actions the Administration has taken to lower prescription drug prices.