WASHINGTON (AP) — Leading congressional liberals are unveiling a legislative package that aims to radically reduce what Americans pay for prescription drugs by linking prices to lower costs in other countries.
The legislation has little chance of becoming law under a divided government, even though President Donald Trump has embraced some of the ideas at one time or another. The administration has released its own plan to reduce drug costs.
Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and Maryland Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings planned to introduce three bills on Thursday, according to Sanders’ office.
One proposal would open up generic competition to patent-protected brand-name drugs that are deemed "excessively priced." A second bill would allow Medicare to directly negotiate with drugmakers. The third bill would allow consumers to import lower-priced medications from Canada.
Read the Top 8
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
Additional Reads
-
New Orleans braces for saltwater wedge into water supply September 22, 2023 -
Surgeons perform second pig heart transplant, trying to save a dying man September 22, 2023
-
Washington state judge tosses suit challenging transportation resource bill September 22, 2023 -
