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Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Democrats Challenge Trump With Drug-Cost Legislation

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.

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.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during the Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Oil and gas drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge moved closer Wednesday as a key Senate panel approved a bill to open the remote refuge to energy exploration. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the drilling measure, 13-10. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

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.

Categories / Consumers, Government, Health

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