For Seniors part D is a bait and switch game. Unless you evaluate your choice every year you will find yourself facing rising prices the next. What was a good plan one year can morph into a bad one the next. Not every Senior does there homework every year. The insurance companies count on that
1
He only does these because he’s lousy at doing the hard work of negotiating with others to get things done the way the system is supposed to work. The art of the deal is out of fashion; much easier to lie and bluster and try to impose your will on others. Sad - and not great.
1
I doubt that Trump really intends to do anything re drug prices. Just a talking point for re election. The new NAFTA has a specific clause that says generic biologics will not be obtainable in Canada. Sure seems like they are protecting big pharmaceutical to me.
2
If they are going to start by applying cost controls on a subset of drugs, they need to select the most life-critical drugs first, such as insulin. People are dying because they can't afford the outrageous prices. Democrats and Republicans need to work together to address this important issue.
5
There is no plan. This is just Trump running off at the mouth.
7
Get your prescription signed and printed on the doctor’s best paper with letter head and get your meds in Canada or any European country. Trump and the three major American drug do not care about you. They will save you money on aspirin and get rich on important life saving meds while you cant afford epipens,insulin or common antibiotic like tetracycline.
VThey and Trump need be leveled down to size! It is time they compete with foreign pharmaceutical companies or Americans will never have a square deal on important drugs—like those that save lives. Ask any foreign pharmacist in English France Italy what your meds cost there and you will learn the truth about Americas cheating big three drug companies.
4
I dont believe Trump for one moment and dont you either. His order wont apply to significant meds. The big hoggish rich drug companies feed him. Go to Europe for meds and if you cant, get on the bus to Canada. It is the only way to get meds at an honest price—usually a third or morevof what we pay the cheating drug companies here.
4
Dont let Trump kid you. He has no intention of fixing medication costs..He speaks campaign lies.
Dont wait for him. Get your drugs outside of America. It is easier than you think—-safe too.
The drug companies in America are cheats lining their pockets. They must be stopped and Trump will never do that. We need a new administration that cares. We must vote.
4
"Trump Suggests Executive Order on Drug Prices, With a Scope That Is Unclear"
Whoah. Are you suggesting that Donald Trump said, or tweeted, something that wasn't crystal clear?
I didn't expect THAT.
4
Trumps Executive Order on Drug prices will no doubt be another Nothing Burger as the big pharma companies are large campaign contributors. Don't expect much progress here. McConnell and the republican senate will shoot anything meaningful down with great glee.
6
I will vote for anyone who elks to bring insulin prices down to what they are in Canada. Even for Trump.
Whatever he comes up with for the remainder of his term, or the second one, I'm going to have a hard time getting past the airplanes in 1776 bit.
3
Pleeeeease... trump throws statements at the wall and watches to see what sticks... Even if he genuinely intends to do something about this, it’s not a priority.
In his “business” career he would assign aides to make deals happen and at the end come in to sign the papers, he never cared about the process, the methods or was remotely interested in learning anything about the subject... just “let’s do this... make this happen for me”...
And thats how he still conducts himself... but now, not only is he trying to make money, he’s trying to secure for himself a legacy.
“People want cheap meds... make this happen for me”...
If someone can work out the details, he’ll sign his name to it... if the method is a little unconstitutional, no bother, he’s fine with that as long as he can get what he decided he wants...
Unless he decides something will define his legacy, he’s unconcerned if it doesn’t work out and fades into obscurity.
Affordable meds is one of those “let me know if it works out” subjects...
No plan, no interest and no intentions of leaning about the subject because it’s not his problem... if someone can hand him a paper to sign so he can display it to the cameras like a child hanging a scribble on the fridge, than that was his baby all along... his holy crusade.
His supporters don’t care, because if he says he’ll do something, it’s like he already done it, so win-win.
4
Life saving prescription drugs must be made affordable by executive order ! Let’s wait and see...
900 days into the presidency and now he recognizes the problem, now? And, his solution is no solution. Vote Blue, No Matter Who.
2
The un-republican executive attack on the Constitution continues. Congress fails to assert its sole power to make the law. If the American people are to be governed by executive orders, and the courts are to fall into line, we are become a dictatorship. We haven't much time to stop this process of unconstitutional executive aggrandizement. Impeachment is the only remedy we have that can't be checked. The House must impeach, and soon.
5
The American drug companies have grown rich on meds that cost less than a third of what they cost here. Important life saving drugs! Find out how your prescription must be prepared then get on the bus with us to Canada and have a nice vacation there too.
3
Oh, @BobParker...?While I agree with many of your (and others’) points about how to go about reducing the cost of prescription medications, point two about NIH funding needs some context. While it is true that the NIH has funded studies for ALL recently approved drugs (some 210 between 2010 and 2016; https://www.statnews.com/2018/02/12/nih-funding-drug-development/), it is equally true that other non-governmental entities fund the majority of preclinical and clinical research: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/03/data-check-us-government-share-basic-research-funding-falls-below-50
On the main, guess who those non-governmental entities are... Uh, huh.
Look... I get it... Pharma is bad... But let’s get the facts straight because I see a lot of emotion and hyperbole about the pharmaceutical industry... Hey, did they ruin your stock portfolio in 2008-2009? Did pharma make you buy a foreign car or dishwasher? Probably not, right? Did prescription medications help a loved one live a better life with a disease or provide some comfort towards the end of their life? I hope so because that’s why I went to work in pharma. All that stuff happens too.
Let’s not chuck the baby out with the bath water.
1
I think this is a fantastic idea. Especially if he can dramatically reduce the price of Insulin that type 1 Diabetes sufferers pay. He has courage to attack big Pharma, and although I personally despise him, I applaud this idea. Who else has attacked the big issues facing us? It seems like the bought and paid for Congress was simply "kicking the can down the road" for decades. Next up is Social Security finally Climate Change.
1
Epipens cost $80 in England and $300 plus in America. Dont let your child get stung in America either by a bee or a drug company. Find a doctor in Europe, see him and get a prescription and fill-it there. In fact, many drugs there are over the counter. Enjoy a European holiday and stock up.it will be worth the flight cost.
2
Grandma,
High new drug prices in America, is a necessary evil. If the U.S. were to adopt the European pricing scenario, the profit motive that has driven innovation and risk taken would take a significant step backwards.
Executive orders to subvert the law.
Taxpayer funded campaign rally on the 4th of July, which also allowed the president to essentially threaten US citizens and the world by showing he can bring weapons to DC. (I would like to see an accounting including hotel revenue that goes in the family pocket.)
Further attempts at intimidation by fighting to add a citizenship question to the census questionnaire.
Assaults on the first amendment.
More assaults on the first amendment.
Assaults on the rest of the Constitution except the second amendment.
Assault on climate.
Increasing national debt.
Elevation of autocrats.
Denigration of allies.
Decreasing standing in the world.
Is everybody happy?
7
@Steve Ell--He has been using OUR money for all of him campaigning. If Dems ever get back in control, they should sue him for everything he has. (Which is probably zilch. He only spends other people's money. So do all his cabinet members, and his awful family--they should be sued, too)
6
Trump effectively has eliminated Article 1 of the Constitution, and it is on his way of eliminating Article 3 by governing by Executive Order with the deep thoroughness which fits on a tweet.
Heck, it has gotten so bad that even members of his Cabinet like Menuchin o members of the Border Patrol feel they don’t owe a minimum of respect or any oversight information to members of Congress.
Republicans argue that Democrats want to implement socialism BUT they are on their way to effectively kill Our Democracy Altogether ....
Somebody should remind them this Nation greatness is founded on a goverment OF people, BY the people and FOR the people. Neither of these three axioms is being truly observed or respected by Trump and his minions.
We are really on a crisis. Lets kick them all out on 2020 !
8
It is long past the time to address this pricing conundrum! The federal government already has data from the veterans administration to guide them. I have no doubt that many in congress [our Royals!] will resist this because of big Pharmas campaign $$$!
5
@jabow4 An executive order declaration is the ignorant, lazy, faux-president's way of pretending he's doing something.
3
Yes just simply set the prices by executive order. That’s the basis of republicanism. Next problem...
1
He's sounding more and more like a dictator. If he thinks he can just write executive orders instead of working with the legislature it is time to impeach. Maybe then he'll learn about this document we have called the Constitution. He should read it some time.
7
"I'm going to replace Obamacare with something that will cover everyone and cost less" said Donald Trump.
2
@Stephen Slattery . On day one Trump told more lies than most presidents did in a full term.
1
Trump is probably just profiting from stock trades until pharmaceutical companies get the message that he expects "contributions" from them before he drops his charade.
3
I am in Quebec and inquired at a pharmacy here what my BREO would cost. Its $800/mo in South Carolina. Here its $160/mo. As a NeverTrump GOP, I cant imagine him doing anything that actually benefits everyone but if this leads to allowing US citizens to legally buy meds from Canada I am all for it.
2
Whoa. Slow down on the details there, Mr. Trump.
2
Another joke/lie by the ego maniac demagogue wanna be King in charge.
Nominate a moderate progressive for the WH and ditto in the Congress, in purple states in 2020, not Hillary types outside big liberal districts and pass a national, affordable, quality health plan that just about all our peer countries have.
2
So we got the program down now. Governing the US is done by 1) Executive Orders 2) National Security Threat 3) Military control via Commander in Chief. 3) Presidential Pardons. Buckle Up.
7
Another well planned roll out. The WH press office had no comment. Do you think, when the president waddled out the door, the press office had any idea of this proposal?
2
“A plan to decrease prescription costs, without many details” is not a plan - it’s a sound bite ... a distractor.
The title relies too much on insight that ‘Could’ suggests unlikely & the organization of the article by an excellent reporter nonetheless buries this information.
Trump’s fake governing style—the Executive Order—is wearing thin. Not really democracy, eh?
3
For a man who is fast closing in on eleven thousand lies, why on earth does anyone believe him on this one?
2
Or, maybe he just thinks he's dictator, and Big Pharma will obey.
3
“Why should other nations like Canada — why should other nations pay much less than us? They’ve taken advantage of the system for a long time, pharma.”
M’god, Trump is a closet socialist!
2
He just wants to be the talk of the nation...
He has no idea what he's talking about...
2
Promises, promises!
If Trump does this the pharmaceutical industry will immediately go into court and ask for an injunction. And guess what, all those conservative justices Republicans have been packing the courts with are very pro business. With great certainty I can tell you that the pharmaceutical industry will have at least 4 votes on SCOTUS. Justice Roberts is a maybe, but will likely side against Trump. Gorsuch and Kavanaugh are sure things, as are Alito and Thomas. Moreover, such an executive order will force pharmaceutical companies to raise their prices worldwide. I'm all for price reductions, but try to remember Trump is an idiot. He has no idea what complexities are involved in what he's attempting. He thinks everything is easy because he was born rich and daddy kept bailing him out. Not to mention, if Trump goes through with this, he has to turn in his capitalist badge and stop calling Bernie Sanders a socialist.
7
He is emboldened by the lack of congressional checks, wake up Republicans!!! He is going to executive order you right out of the picture. Stand up! Do your job!
2
The White House stationery for this Presidency now begins with the words “I hereby decree ...”
2
“American will NEVER be a socialism nation” (President Donald Trump, Jan 2019)
“I’m considering an executive order to regulate drug prices” (Comrade Donald Trump, July 2019)
5
The man cannot even speak a sentence, let alone write an executive order... Of course, somebody else puts in the punctuation and capitalization.
2
THERE IS NO PLAN!!! There will be no plan. This applies to every issue. Infrastructure anyone? Trump is incompetent and a scammer. He will merely pretend that something is happening and then off to his golf course. Yet the media still cover his utterances on the way to Marine One as real news. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me the next hundred times,..........
7
Yeah, sure. Does this include modern drugs, or just those from Colonial times ??? Sad.
3
Donald Trump has discovered that he can rule this country by Executive Order. The Congress can't/won't stand up to him. When the courts rule against him, he reverts to Executive Orders or declares a National Emergency. He may as well go to the next step and legally (or by Executive Order) change his name to D.J. Xi.
For the uninformed, there will be some ring of familiarity to that name.
4
Intermediaries, that is the problem. If our Congress had not been bought and paid for by big Pharma, the U.S. government would be negotiating prices with them for the Medicare and Medicaid programs and we wouldn't be paying an arm and a leg for our medications.
8
This an issue Democrats should be legislating on and passing in the House and putting pressure on McConnell to put to the Senate.
In a nutshell I call it the “ Anti Gouging act” it means no American should pay more for prescription drugs than a “ basket” of Industrial countries , this will benefit all health plans and individuals.
Big Pharma should realign their global pricing to ensure there are no discriminatory practices. They will also be forced to address marketing costs and executive compensation.
Americans must not subsidize other nations or big Pharma excess
7
Will somebody please explain to Trump that we are a democracy and not an authoritarian state?
5
@A Lonely Moderate
Who can and should?
1
Given how toothless this is, it seems like it's nothing but a flimsy underpinning for campaign promises. Good. That shows improvement from just making stuff up out of thin air - more than 11,000 times.
2
The House and Senate could remove the self-imposed bar placed by a Republican Congress in 2003 on the government's ability to negotiate Medicare drug prices tomorrow. Mitch McConnell will not allow pending legislation addressing drug prices pased by the Democratic House to come up for a vote in the Senate. Any questions?
5
@Rosslaw
Mitch McConnel is unAmerican!
2
I think it is save to assume that Trump has no real idea about some serious policy. We have learned over the years that he says things for effect, to catch a headline and that he does not understand the complexity of many of the issues he babbles about. He needs some talking points - that is all.
On the important issue of drug pricing: would this not be a subject where lawmakers get together and work out a real policy - in a bipartisan way and for the good of the people? This is too important an issue to leave it to the babbling of Mr. Trump. - Ah well, I guess the GOP does not want to anger it´s donors - and Trump will soon go on to the next babble-stage.
1
This is a tough one. What to do when a politician I personally despise proposes to do something I agree with? Or to put it another way, how to react when bad presidents do good things.
The argument that forcing change by executive order is inherently unstable makes sense. We’ve seen the current President easily strike down executive orders put in place by his predecessor. It’s also sometimes the only way things get done. Congress should be doing this but key members of Congress also receive large contributions from pharmaceutical companies to insure that they don’t.
Finally, I have to ask myself, if this was, say, President Bernie Sanders or President Amy Klobuchar proposing to make an end run around an inactive and let’s face it, corrupt, Congress, would I be as conflicted about it?
To be honest I’d probably be cheering them on.
2
Much of what joker trump Is babbling about amounts to sound and fury signifying little or nothing to the average American. The drugs Trump and Azar are tantalizing their base over are a very small group of drugs not commonly dispensed to large segments of the population who have a common disease. In other words the ridiculous cost of human insulin for diabetes mellitus is not likely to be reduced; thus out of pocket costs won’t likely come down for the consumer who has sugar diabetes. There are some types of infusions, indeed expensive ones, for cancer treatment and immunotherapies, that could be affected depending on where the infusion is dispensed. This talk is about a pilot program that has a finite period for the drug manufacturers. Said another way, this is a public relations campaign.
The same is true of the administration’s attempt to get poorer gay men of color in the south PrEP, or Truvada, which is still quite costly without prescription drug coverage because the drug company who developed the medicine still has a patent on it. So far universal access to PrEP for all at risk in the US, remains illusive. The administration talks a good game, but in the end, the insurance carriers of prescription drug coverage, and not the US government, negotiate prescription drug pricing and consumer co-pays. The exception is the VA, which does have negotiation authority.
1
The perfect thing for a real capitalist to do is to control drug prices. I’m sorry I mean socialist. I hate drug prices, but I don’t think socialism, especially Trump socialism, is the answer. The GOP is now French?
Paradoxically, this is probably the only way true reform can actually happen: when the GOP is too scared to go against “their” president on an issue where lobbyists have typically held sway. If it came from a Democrat it would be dead on arrival. So all told it will be interesting to see where this goes. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
2
If you happen to read this President Trump:
1) If you really are intent on stopping drug companies from charging the exorbitant rip-off prices they currently charge, thank you. Such a measure is long overdue.
2) Why executive order? We do have a branch of government that usually handles things like this – we call it the legislature. You would probably find bipartisan support for a bill relieving people of grossly inflated pharmaceutical prices.
1
What happens when Congress is controlled by corporate lobbyists, campaign contributions, and not the American People? Congress does the bidding of their corporate masters while ignoring the needs of the people. If the government did the bidding of the people, drug prices would never have reached the insane and immoral prices of today.
When this goes on long enough with drug prices or a host of other pressing issues, the American people get frustrated by their disenfranchisement and turn to strong men populists, or in Trump's case, a faux populist who is really more concerned about his next political victory than delivering on promises that actually help American workers.
An executive order will not be a permanent fix for drug prices or anything else, and we see our presidents using this tool more because they want to maintain power against a frustrated, desperate and angry population who knows their government has been usurped by a corporate cabal empowered by the Citizens United decision and bottomless pockets to bribe, purchase, and own the politicians who are supposed to represent us, not them.
So do I support such an order? Objectively yes. Do I think such an order is probably a political ploy that Mitch McConnell's Senate slave Republicans will reverse as soon as the baby POTUS gets re-elected?
Most certainly.
@PJ
He will not be re-elected!
2
I thought the Democrats were the Socialists? Here we have Trump and the Republican party setting prices, and then we have Trump State Trading with China. Quess if I want to vote for a Socialist i'll have to vote for Trump next year.
3
@JJ Another example of their hypocrisy! How awful to have such miscreant politicians!
1
Pure political theater, and nothing more. The J-code drugs the government pays for in the Medicare program have been the subject of outrageous manipulation for years, from manipulating "the spread" between the self-reported Red Book price and actual cost, in the 90s, to today. And here's the fun part - changing it will make a statistically irrelevant difference in Medicare costs, be completely invisible to 99.99% of consumers, including Medicare recipients, yet give Trump the ability to trumpet, "I forced drug manufacturers to drop prices 50%!" And the rubes, who continue to see 10-20% increases in their own meds every year, will believe him.
It's theater, folks. Pure theater.
1
Anything meaningful bills on this subject will never come out of a Republican senate because Mitch McConnell will smother them in their sleep. GOP senators know this, so feel safe in proposing whatever grandiose legislation they like, knowing it will never see the light of day.
1
Um, someone needs to tell Donald that, as much as it might bother him, this is still a democratic republic. He is not a dictator who can unilaterally order pricing for any industry. The answer lies with Congress which should legislate that the government, on behalf of Medicare and Medicaid, can negotiate drug prices.
1
Congress should take his lead and pass legislation to limit prices on all prescription drugs to “most favored nation” prices - for all government programs and for those with and without insurance.
Edward Dale
Former Director
Legal Assistance to Medicare Patients
1
@Edward Dale
There should be some intelligent formula on how to equalize justly prescription prices. The price of medicines in other countries are considerably lower! Why!? This question must be answered by legislators!!!!!
1
I don’t like executive orders. But this was needed. Obama tried doing legally and GOP would never let him do anything. I really don’t care who does this, but glad this is happening. No drug should cost $7.5M per treatment. I pay generic BP medication $360 for 3 months that costs less than $2 in most countries. Wake up.
Trump declared an emergency at the border, reallocated previously appropriated funds to build a wall and Congress and the courts allowed it. America effectively has a dictator who feels emboldened and will now rule by decree. Republicans refuse to fulfill their oath and stop the tyranny. It's an amazing thing to this Canadian that anyone can call America the greatest democracy on earth anymore as it appers a small minority now controls all parts of government and therefore the country and run it for their own benefit. Not so different from Russia!
2
@ZAW... First, you made me look up Pete Olson... Well played.
Second, I think you should be the Drug Czar in HHS, as all those suggestions strike a cord with this ex-pharma worker (not in marketing or the sales force, btw). I especially like the patent buy-back suggestion.
Rather than letting the ‘pirates’ (ie, generic pharma houses in India and Israel and elsewhere) and their armies of lawyers try and steal patents to medications before they can even be FDA approved, let alone sold to patients, let our government market and distribute off-patent medications. The pharmaceutical companies could, in theory, continue to manufacture the medicines, thus ensuring quality over generic versions (another beef I have with the pirates). But the government can then sell them at a fair price based on the cost of manufacturing and distribution within the pharmacy network (shipping costs count too, people). That system could work, and there are a number of effective and efficacious medicines already off patent to treat practically every disease state, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Hail to the Drug Czar!
The USA is the only country in the free world that does not allow their major hospitals and insurance companies negotiate for prices from the major pharmas. I am a type 2 diabetic and my PA told me of a great new med called Jardiance, but Medicare would not cover the cost of $400/month. Having been in the healthcare business for over 40 years and calling on virtually all major hospitals across the country. I know that the pharmacies in Canada offer meds much cheaper than in this country. This med is available for $66/month from CanadianPharmacy.com with a prescription. Yes not taking insulin for a person with type 2 can cause big problems but a type 1 diabetic will die without insulin. Type 2 diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar and type 1 is inherited. Humalog is a insulin taken by injections and costs $1,400 per month in the USA. This product is produced by Eli Lilly and the CEO of Eli Lilly heads up the lobby group buying off our political leaders to keep these laws from being overturned. One way they control the medications is to evergreen the expensive meds to keep other manufacturers from making a generic version.
We have yet to hear a single democrat running for president mention this as a problem to solve. Hopefully someone will have the guts to do so.
2
- President Trump said Friday that the White House was writing an executive order to require pharmaceutical companies to offer the United States government among the lowest prices in the world, in comments that were not immediately clear to many experts on the country’s health care system.
* call me when it gets done . . . next
2
@Blue in Green
This illegitimate president is always unclear!
1
Fascinating. Senator Rick Scott Of Florida made his fortune running HCA hospital Corp, and ripped off the system. In his trial, he took the 5th over 50 times. He was fined over 1.5 BILLION for defrauding Medicare, instead of prison, and had enough money to buy the Governors office. Now he’s a crusader? We are big Pharma’s profit center. First, we need Medicare for all (those who wish could keep paying through the nose) then single payer. People are dying by the thousands.
2
So Trump is now in favor of ‘socialized’ medicine? Does he really have no clue as to why the comparative countries have lower drug prices than the US....
1
@Angela
To answer your question: Yes he has no clue! He never has a clue for anything he does or proposes!
1
Other countries don't dictate prices, we negotiate prices. It's not like we have the power to force pharma companies to sell at a loss, they would simply opt not to sell at all. Big pharma price gouges americans because they can, they invested in lobbyists and have been rewarded by laws that explicitly forbid price negotiation. It is actually illegal for the HHS secretary to negotiate drug prices on behalf of medicare recipients.
Your problem is political corruption.
1
The poor man... he just doesn't understand that he isn't king, and that he's just not very bright. He has never understood that he cannot do anything he wants, and he will, in fact, have a very hard time adjusting to life in prison. Once he becomes used to the routine, he will be ok. Sort of like the imu who sees himself in the mirror... he'll adjust. And so will we... though some of us will lag behind others. It shouldn't take more than two or three hundred years of wondering how on earth we as a nation allowed this to happen. How many lives has he ruined, and how much of our democracy has been taken from us. It will not be easy regaining the stature we had some years ago, once again helping and supporting our allies, while holding the bad actors more or less in check. We will eventually find our way back with the help of grateful immigrants and fresh ideas from many of us as a nation. Hopefully we will regain the planet with hard work, and trusting in science and all the new discoveries so that the children of our children will enjoy their time on earth .
1
Trump should try telling the truth at least once a year, and do something for all of the people, and not just benefit the swamp he created and wallows within.
1
Above all Trump wants to be a winner -- here I believe he is trying to capture the socialist vote. I hope he transitions to trying to capture the Democratic Socialist vote.
1
Remember this from the say guy who thinks the continental army controlled airports.
2
There is collusion between drug companies and big pharma. The treatment for any ailment is a pill or now a “biological”. The latter can cost thousands of dollars a month. Just look at the constant TV ads - “ask your Doctor” for this, People are dying because they can not afford insulin - a necessity not an option. It’s extracted from pig intestines - in China. Read the other labels - manufactured in India, formulated in Eastern Europe. Who knows the purity! Drug companies have been cutting R&D for decades so the claims on research costs are bogus. Lawmakers - beholden to the drug lobbyists. Over 70 and do not require any medications - nothing processed, nothing fried, exercise, and a busy lifestyle.
Other nations pay lower prices because the Republican Party has steadfastly guarded the racketeering practices of Big Pharma in the American Market.
And let's not even start talking about the murdering-people-for-money overprescription of chronic pain medicine who do not need it. 70,000 overdose deaths last year. Guess it keeps the war on drugs humming.
1
I will be amazed if anything comes of this. most likely Pharma will slip Trump a few million, Trump will announce victory and do nothing, or simply blame the Democrats for drug prices. With the extraordinary lack of critical thinking in the country today, appearance is all that is important, substance is ignored.
2
This needs to happen!! Either by executive order or by our congressmen and congresswomen Finally doing something.
For far too long and under too many administrations the big pharma gang has made windfalls on the backs of sick citizens and the US taxpayer via subsidy. The beloved ACA neither addressed nor confronted them and actually took away the government’s ability to have solid price negotiations.
Wonderful news! Thanks Mr. President!
1
Not sure that Trump understands that 9 out of 10 prescriptions are for generic drugs, which have had some of the most egregious price increases in the past few years.
2
Trump was against the elimination of pre-existing conditions protections. He still says he will protect patients. But the Republican proposals eliminate those protections.
Is Trump the good cop in a good cop bad cop scheme? Will he be for reducing drug prices but the Republicans are against it?
It's all the fault of Obama-Biden anyway.
1
@Dhg
We can only hope Democrat candidates for POTUS remembers to fiercely elucidate this illegitimate president's anti-health plan!
1
Weren’t Trump & the GOP crying about Mr. Obama using Executive orders too much? Trump should just issue an executive order declaring him self reelected as president of the world that is how ridiculous he is. After all, he said "he is the extremely stable genius". Folks we cannot allow this to continue beyound 2020.
1
I'd like to see the advertisement of prescription medicines banned and the enormous pharma budgets that cause me to be inundated with tales of constipation, diarrhea, uncontrolled bladders, and worse while watching the evening news be rolled into lower prices for the customer. Other countries do it.
1
this is just more trump lies. Trump's administration is already responsible for negotiating the prices it pays.
1
A better start to controlling drug prices would be to get rid of lobbyists.
1
The evil genius is plotting another story to fool voters. The corrupt child bully is the king of swamp and I am sure that hundreds of millions will pour into his campaign coffer from the big pharma in 2020 so that they can continue to loot our nation.Con man promised a better health care than Obamacare. In reality, he gave us nothing except doing everything to kill Obamacare which helps millions to maintain health coverage. The other plot was mandating drug companies to broadcast drug price on TV ads. The king of executive orders could take many steps (mandating price negotiation for drugs paid by Medicare, establishing price ceiling for generic/brand drugs based on cost of living index and others). Of course, swamp king is never going to do any such thing. His strategy is to delay the process any way he can so that he can use false propaganda during the election. He will even ask his friends in big pharma to file lawsuit so that the decision takes a long time. In the mean time, the pathological liar would continue his propaganda diring the election. People wake up, the corrupt evil genius is fooling us again with false illusions. He is the epitome of what’s wrong with our great nation today.
What Trump really wants to do is an executive order giving all his executive orders the force of law.
Who would object? Not the Republicans. They’re busy cowering in their offices any time they’re asked to opine on a Trumpism.
The Supremes? It appears 4 of them wouldn’t.
The House? They object constantly. Maybe Trump will issue an executive order that they can’t object anymore.
Trump would if he could. It’s scary.
it's amazing yet predictable how the anti Trump echo chamber scrambles to figure out a way to trash something that is desperately needed by all Americans just because it is a Trump initiative. And then they'll wonder why America will reelect him in 2020.
1
@jjgross People are not trashing Trump for trying to reduce medicine costs - everyone knows the US needs that. People are trashing him for using executive orders when this is a legislative problem. He should talk with Much about this, not write executive orders like a banana republic dictator.
Trump doesn't know what he's talking about, so why should the so-called experts? He's not yet the tin-pot dictator he aspires to be, so an executive order will not change the laws his Republican backers have put in place to line the pockets of the pharmaceutical industry.
1
Rule by executive order. That’s all you hear out of Trump. Yes, drug prices are high. Congress needs to deal with this issue. Trump is a wannabe dictator. He knows little about strategy and fails to recognize the unintended consequences of his split second fly by the seat way of governing. Leaders act much differently than this child president. I didn’t like executive orders under Bush or Obama, and I like them even less under Illegitimate office holder.
Pretty soon we will not need hospital administrators or board members. Donald Trump will just write executive orders what to charge and how to administer healthcare. He’s the expert, you know. Surely he knows the prices of appendectomies, cardiac caths, orthopedic surgeries, video EEG’s, labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care fees......etc. - we get it. Donald knows best.
Medicare Part D was passed with a prohibition on negotiating drug pricing as a gift to big Pharma who made very large contributions to Bush W's campaign. Quid pro quo? All private companies have this power. Why not simply rescind this ridiculous prohibition?
I can't stand Trump because of what he has done to this country. But if he - by executive order or any other way - could actually bring down the prices of most of our drugs, especially insulin, I could at least feel like was the president of all of us.
Two and one half years too late and probably ineffective to boot.
1
Trump hates the media so much especially the major networks as well as cable news like CNN and others. Then why doesn't pass another of his many executive orders that would prohibit big Pharma from spending so much money telling us to ask our doctor about being prescribed all these new drugs. Are we to believe that our doctors would not suggest the drugs we need to begin with.? How much do these adds cost? Stopping this unneeded adds would save the drug companies a lot of money to lower costs or at least have more to invest in research which is a reason the say the cost of many drugs are so high.
1
And what difference will it make if I know the amount of the over-priced drug my doctor got kickbacks for prescribing to me?
1
Velly Interesting that Rick Scott was once a top dog in a Texas HMO involved in a multimillion dollar Medicare scam. He escaped to Florida leaving the other dogs with culpability. In Florida he became Governor, now Senator. No more trustworthy than Trump. Flimflam men cannot erect a wall around big Pharma who fuels the election of most of our Congresspersons in this Corporate-ruled joint.
2
a few thoughts added to what has already been noted:
-prohibiting direct-to-consumer advertising should certainly be a goal of any program to reduce drug costs; by many analyses, PHARMA spends more on this than on actual R&D
- stricter audits of what is actually spent on R&D by PHARMA and other sources will show that most $$ spent on basic research identifying a drug/molecule as a drug target and then on clinical trials needed for FDA approval is already paid by the gov't (NIH) and therefore the public and not by PHARMA
- FDA should no longer approved new drugs that do not represent a real improvement over existing drugs, as these will invariably be more expensive than the existing drug, unless the drug company agrees to charge the same price as the existing drug
- improve the patent laws such that a minor change in a drug formulation/structure will not qualify for new patent protection
- revamp patent laws to prevent PHARMA actions that impede generics from entering the market
- establish an independent agency/organization that evaluates the cost effectiveness of any new drug providing info on which to make decisions regarding usefulness
- institute a process by which any increase in the price of an existing drug must be reviewed and justified by a concomitant increase in manufacturing costs
Article did not state that, on average, pharmaceutical companies spend an estimated $2.6 billion and more than 10 years to develop each drug and bring it to market, including drug discovery, preclinical testing, and clinical trials. They also must absorb the cost of many candidate drugs that for various reasons never get approved. This accounts for part (but as other commenters have noted, not all) of the high costs of some new drugs like cancer therapies.
While I agree that price reduction strategies should be evaluated, the plan proposed by Sen. Scott is short-sighted. If FDA approval of new drugs was predicated on making US retail prices comparable to foreign pricing, pharmaceutical drug development would grind to a halt. This would hurt everyone in the long run.
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I suggest a multi-faceted approach.
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First, of course, ALLOW MEDICARE TO NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES!!
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Second, use antitrust laws to go after the “micro monopolies” that are all too common in the pharmaceutical industry: where one company has a monopoly on an off patent drug and can name its price. These aren’t big companies; so the full weight of the federal government should make short work of them.
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Third, streamline the process to bring new medicines to market in the US, and punish companies that misuse the system in order to keep competitors out.
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Fourth, impose a variable tax on pharmaceutical companies. The rate of this tax would be derived from the difference between what the company charges in the US, versus the average of what it charges on the international market. The tax would be paid on the company’s profits, minus its R&D budget.
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Finally, allow the US Government to buy patents back from pharmaceutical companies so that they can put certain medicines in the public domain.
3
It is always interesting to watch a new president take over and learn the job. It sort of reminds me of rookie quarterbacks in the NFL that go into a game because the starter was injured. There seems to be a direct correlation between how the helmet fits as to how well they will do in the big league game under presssure.
Trump it seems has learned two things since the election - the executive order and the acting head of a department rather go through all the proper nominating procedures. He might just add that question to the end of the census anyway is a great example of the folly we seem to go through on a daily basis.
I’m not sure he’s going to bankrupt us by the end of his term. As far as he’s concerned he can occupy that seat for as long as he likes but for the rest of us the clock is ticking and waits for no one.
3
To lower drug costs, we need to eliminate the expensive sales forces that market to physicians and advertising on television/magazines. Those costs alone drive up what we pay and have nothing to do with improving health. There are some industries - like pharma - that need more government intervention to ensure that we consumers are not held hostage to high prices and the aftermath of what happened with opiates.
5
Data to prove your point, please?!
It would have been nice to know what is meant by 'the price that Medicare pays for some drugs that are administered by doctors'. What exactly are we talking about? Is this only going to affect Medicare Part D? The number of drugs covered by 'Original Medicare' is small and will not affect a significant part of the population. This sounds to me like it could be a trumped up effort to make this sound like it will be of benefit to all on Medicare, when in reality it would do nil for a good portion of the Medicare population. NOTE, that for those who do use the few drugs covered by original medicare this would be a good thing.
1
Why not use eminent domain powers to acquire the rights to certain high priced, highly used drugs and then standardize drug pricing equitably across all countries? Drug companies continue to have the incentive to innovate and the US drug consumer pays a lower price that is in line with price paid in other countries.
@James The use of eminent domain would be "nationalize" of an industry which is what third rate despots engage in.
Trump has no plan, no surprise, so, possibly Congress, if they can live without the campaign bribes, oops, donations from Big Pharma, could enact some legislation if McConnell approves and tells Trump he can sign the legislation.
But, I won't hold my breath.
I am usually against Executive Order.
Except for policies that are popular among both democrats and republicans.
Also Congress doesn't carry the risk of passing a law without knowing if it is good or bad. EO on a pilot program helps to test the policy effectiveness. If it is successful, Congress will be under pressure on both sides to make it into law.
This is a good case for an EO.
If Trump signs an EO to lower drug prices, will another President dare reverse it? I don't think so.
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@Bhaskar If President Obama had signed an Executive Order telling companies how much they could or could not charge for their product, the entire state of Texas would have risen up screaming about monarchy and tyranny. Just sayin'.
Recently, I was at my local pharmacy and overheard a conversation between the pharmacist and an elderly lady. She was picking up her meds and wondered why the price had gone up. The pharmacist told her that her usual discount was adjusted to meet the increase in the original manufacturer's price. He told her what the original per pill price was and both of our jaws dropped. It was $685 per pill or something in that range. Yes, something needs to change. So many Americans can't afford even the adjusted/discounted prices.
12
Trump finally doing some good. Americans are taken advantage of because there are no limits to what the pharmaceutical companies charge. In other countries the gov negotiate the price. Here Medicare is prevented by law. Campaign contributions at work. The president has to propose that the Medicare law changes.
Will be fun watching congress run in circles trying to protect their money .
10
@Vincent Papa
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. This is Trump vaguely talking about doing some good. When running for president he also lauded the Canadian health system. He's been president for 2 and half years already, and things have only gotten worse. If Trump really wanted to take on pharma, he would have actually done something before now. Looks like tactical campaign posing.
40
Everything Trump says lies.
To me the most interesting information in the article was that Rick Scott the Republican Senator from Florida actually introduced a bill to deal with pharmaceutical pricing. It will be interesting to see if it goes to committee. Recently, I checked the voting record of one of the Democratic primary candidates who is currently in the Senate. What struck me was not how how he voted on legislation but how few actual pieces of legislation were voted on in May and June. No surprise that most votes consisted of confirming judges to the district courts. I did a quick count which I believe is fairly accurate and came up with 25 . So it is refreshing to see a Republican in Congress working on actual legislation rather than just participating in stacking the courts.
10
@Diane
Rick Scott made his personal fortune with Medicare fraud .
1
"An executive order on drug prices would most likely have no force of law on its own, but could direct the Department of Health and Human Services to pursue or expand this approach"
The president seems to have become fixated on executive orders as his own private wand. If thwarted by courts, or too contemptuous to govern through Congress, he whips out a policy and makes it an AE.
Drug prices have always been high here because big pharma has argued they need the money for research. Marketing is more like it (I worked in this field). Foreign nations with single payer systems tell what they're willing to pay for drugs, and companies accept it for the volume.
But here, of course, the price is whatever they can get away with in order to reward shareholders since the profit margins are so low abroad. Because of our fragmented system, with multiple payors, big pharma can do this.
The only way to lower drug prices in our convoluted system is to try a pilot program with Medicare, and if successful, expand to all payors.
Of course, big pharma equals big campaign donors, so I'm not optimistic this can be done.
28
@christinemcm... As you worked in the field, as did I, then you also know that pharma, big and small, deliver many drugs that save or extend peoples’ lives or at least improve quality of life. Prescription medications also offer alternative treatment courses that can preclude surgery or hospitalization. Cost out asthma treatments in a child with severe asthma versus the cost of treating that child in a hospital when they inevitably crash and burn without their medications. I’ve seen this at our local children’s hospital when I worked across the street for big pharma. It’s not marketing. This happens every day almost everywhere.
If I were the so-called Drug Czar, I would do away with direct-to-consumer advertising because it creates confusion at the patient-caregiver level and the billions spent annually could be used for research and, yes, lowering drug prices in the US. Also, I like your suggestion for a pilot program through Medicare/Medicaid. Data could be generated quickly and modeled throughout the US.
Of course, there’s alway a single-payor system to reign in big bad pharma and their ilk... But I might not want to have asthma or cancer or heart disease or diabetes or dementia or fill in the blank.
1
@ChristineMcM,
The profit margins made abroad are NOT so low and should not be made or seen as the reason as to why Drug Companies charge so much for drugs in the U.S .
The facts are simple: Drug companies make good profits from their drugs overseas (and if they did not, they would refuse to sell them...they will never make a loss by the prices they negotiate with other countries), but in the U.S they make OBSCENE Profits from the prices they can charge for their drugs in the U.S.
No one is stopping them, no one is really doing anything about it and thus they charge whatever they think they can get away with.
Fault lies with your Politicians who are easily bribed to favour Drug Companies over the best interests of the people they are supposed to represent.
Do not seek to pass the blame to other countries who elect Politicians and Governments which actually work for and act in the best interests of their people.
I very much doubt anybody thinks of Walmart as a do-gooder organization.
Yet Walmart has incredibly low drug prices. Most critical generics are $4/month.
How do we square that circle? It does not compute.
Now Trump is suggesting the beginnings of some national policy that could tame some drug prices. Trump, the last guy we'd expect would do that.
When something is broken enough, even Walmart and Trump see an opportunity for themselves to benefit from offering some partial fix for it.
That is what I see here -- and it invites those who are more selfless to try harder to go all the way, to provide real national health care.
If even Trump and Walmart see the light, it is time for the "moderates" to get out of the way and let Democrats do this correctly.
13
@Mark Thomason Re: Walmart and generics. I bought some "bargain" generics from Walmart which seemed to behave differently for me than usual. Actually, I had side effects that were new and very unpleasant. These were all from India and quality control there is iffy. Returned to CVS where my prescriptions are filled by generics made in the US. I get what I pay for.
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@Mark Thomason
"If even Trump and Walmart see the light, it is time for the "moderates" to get out of the way and let Democrats do this correctly."
Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
As is often the case with your highly intelligent comments, you alone among the posters here hit the nail on the head. It's the "moderate" Democrats that stand in the way, as always, of actual progress on reducing American health care costs by getting "big money” (et al., the health insurance companies, Big Pharma, the Medical Industrial Complex) out of the process.
The overwhelming majority of the rest of the comments, arguing vigorously for why it is that we CAN'T rein in prescription drug prices, all easily fall under the rubric of "Turkeys voting for Thanksgiving.” The cognitive dissonance is mind blowing to me, but just business as usual for Corporatist Democrats. THEY are why we can’t have nice things. THEY are why we’ll never have Single Payer or Medicare for All.
Know thy enemy.
2
@Pat I am a beneficiary of the military health system for prescription medication.
There are a couple of prescriptions I have that are made in India.
So, please don't single out one pharmacy as selling drugs made in India.
1
I wonder how expensive drug prices will become in the index countries.
Congress should mandate Medicare and Medicaid be given access to VA prices and provide a public option, allowing people in the individual market to buy in to Medicare. Prices for both programs would come down, saving the federal government money that could be used to offset the cost of those programs.
A public option would create pressure on the private market that should help push drug prices down.
9
@Douglas Weil Most countries do not allow pharma to increase prices and they are bound to that by law. So the immediate aftermath would be that only US prices fall.
As most things Trump, he is hitting a sore point that requires an intelligent solution with a sledgehammer.
@Carlos. And I doubt most governments pay drastically different prices for drugs depending on the program for which the purchases are made.
The federal goverment negotiates for significantly lower prices for thr VA than it the prices paid through Medicaid or Medicare. There is a lot wrong with the way drug prices are set in the United States and ultimately the high cost. But it is insane that the government does not pay the VA price across all programs (which would include public health hospitals ans the Ryan White Care Act).
As for other countires, I don’t doubt that there are laws that make prices not just lower, but sticky. But, it is hard to imagine, if drug companies did not suddenly fond that they were receiving significantly less money in the US that they would not work hard to raise prices elsewhere. And if they succeeded, the “index price” would rise some. Maybe not a lot but some.
Either way, the first and easiest step for the federal government would be to peg all prices paid as part of Medicare and Medicaid to the price paid by the VA..
1
I am not comfortable with our government being run by executive order. Our system of checks and balances does not seem to be working very well under this administration, and for the president to have assumed the power to arbitrarily give a thumbs up or a thumbs down on matters that affect our laws and regulations is a prime example of why that is.
Proposed legislation is routinely stalled by Republicans in the Senate, another example of how the system is being subverted.
No one would deny that reining in the pharmaceutical industry is good idea, but we have a process for proposing and passing laws. Executive order is not necessary or desirable for accomplishing this. The president is exercising power that he was never meant to have.
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@dutchiris
Maybe you forget the last president who ran the country with his pen and his phone.
This is the only area where Trump is on to something positive. America should be paying the least of the major OECD countries given the size of our markets vs other advanced countries. At a minimum, we should be paying the OECD average.
The pharma companies are not the villains here. They have to earn a profit that covers the general risk of the industry and the R&D, which includes successes and failures.
The other countries negotiate on behalf of their countries and push for the lowest price. The pharma companies use America as the backdrop to cover the costs and profits not provided by other countries. Effectively, the US is subsidizing the pharma costs of Canadians and Germans. People who have a better standard of living than Americans.
I hope Trump pushes as hard on this issue as he can actually do some good for a change.
23
@Practical Thoughts
Reading the article closely I see that this measure would have a minimal effect, if any, on the prices we pay for our prescriptions at the pharmacy. He’s just looking for a cheap win that won’t even benefit consumers
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@Practical Thoughts When calculating why pharma prices are so high you forgot to mention executive compensation, dividends and stock buybacks. In addition, America does not subsidize Canadian drug prices. We just have less politicians beholden to industry donations, allowing us to bargain for a better deal. You guys should try that method some time!
18
@Rebecca
You have completely missed the point. You should read the comment you commented on. If Trump's move works, then the result will be that foreign countries will have to pick up their fair share of the cost of developing news drugs. That will mean lower prices and/or more new life-saving drugs for you.
As a former executive in this industry who has negotiated pricing all over the world, let me just say that it is exceptionally complicated and that Donald cannot begin to comprehend pharmaceutical pricing. He cannot concentrate on anything long enough to grasp the current state of affairs if the situation is beyond a first grade level Andi comprehension.
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@NJLatelifemom Maybe the reason that pharmaceutical pricing is so complex (and opaque) is a justification for pricing reform.
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@NJLatelifemom Not at all. I am currently visiting India. Drug manufacturers (same ones whose products we use in the US) sell drugs for 1/10th the price. For a decade I bought Vetolin in India for around $1.30. Same Smithkline company sells for $400 in the US. It is just a scam to ban imports by insurance companies. Only drug manufacturers can import their own medicine. A totally rigged market. If Americans would go beyond abortion and guns, politicians would be forced to deregulate the drug industry. Any wonder the drug companies are the largest contributors to politicians election funds.
2
@FredB
Who do you think pays for the research and testings so you and I can just pick our medicine up at the pharmacy?
I travel to Europe and Central America very often and jus to to give you an idea; after loosing my Lisinopril, drug used to treat high blood pressure, I had to buy it Guatemala. I had to pay $65 per 28 pills of 10mg......
In the US I don't even pay $6 for 30 pills... And like that, I have found out that other more common drugs, in Europe and Central American countries you pay much more than in the US.
So, for now I am counting my blessings...
Since trump is the king of America I guess he can issue executive orders on anything.
49
And hotel rooms will be treated the same as well as trump golf courses, trump condominiums - the lowest prices the the world - Mar a largo anyone can join for$100!
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And Republicans are worried about Socialism?
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@Martin The longer I see Capitalism at work in THIS country, the more Socialism becomes appealing.
@Martin
No, no. The socialism is ABROAD. Socialism is the countries that force US companies to sell drugs at government-mandated prices.
If Trump's plan works, they will have to pay MARKET prices for the US drugs they get. That will mean lower prices for you and me.
1
@Martin They never were. It's just a bludgeon to use against Democrats, and nothing more than that.
Without legislation, it will not happen in spite of what this wanna be petty dictator thinks.
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@SWLibrarian
Congress ceded a fair amount of power and responsibility to the Executive branch with respect to details of Medicare and Medicaid. There's probably a fair amount he can do if he chooses to.
Of course, Congress could take this power away from the Executive - but, since Trump would likely veto such a bill, it would have to have a veto-proof majority in both the House and the Senate behind it.
That's one of the odd things about legislation. That which can be passed only with a simple majority potentially can't be retracted without a veto-proof majority.
5
This is like a baby learning a new word. He now knows "executive order" and seems to want to apply it to everything whether it makes any sense or not.
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@Stephen Hayes, the Republicans were opposed to "executive orders" during President Obama's tenure.
Now that they've made a bizarre "deal" with Donald Trump, they seem to think that executive orders are perfectly fine.
44
Autocrats rule by decree. A decree is dictator talk for Executive Order. In short, an Executive Order is a way to bypass democracy. Makes sense: the electoral college decides the president, the president rule by decree.
@Stephen Hayes It is because apparently he is NOT the big negotiator that he claimed to be!!
What else can Trump accomplish through executive fiat? Lower costs of college? Lower fuel prices? Cooler global temperatures? Safer schools? End homelessness? Once he gets the hang of it, it's easy!
90
He can say anything without consequence regardless of effect. It doesn’t move the needle one vote.
You’re either a supporter or a detractor.
@MEM
Abolish Congress
Abolish SCOTUS
Cancel the United States Constitution
Cancel the Bill of Rights
It's all stuff on his list. And I'm not even joking.
This will be another smoke and mirrors show like the last one on drug prices. As soon as Trump finds out that the big pharma donors and lobbyists don't like it, it'll be forgotten. Mainstream Republicans don't like it either. This is the party of wealth. Monopoly pricing is a big part of their overall strategy.
A small part of Trump actually wants to help his base, the white working class. But as soon as he suggests anything that offends his fellow plutocrats, it goes back into the little cave where it came from. The white working class will then be fed more red meat about immigrants or evil Democrats. Lock her up!
126
Smoke and mirrors indeed. Come election time this contributors from big pharma will have forgotten the charade. Low-information voters will reward him for "doing something" about high drug prices.
1
@JFC I don't think any part of Trump wants to help anyone but himself.
1
President Trump should be focusing on ensuring that the government obtains and maintains an appropriate amount of ownership interest in pharmaceutical innovations discovered with government funded research. A scientific researcher funded by the government should not have sole ownership of discoveries made with such funded research, and should not be able to sell all rights to the discovery to a pharmaceutical company. Instead, a percentage of any proceeds ensuing from such discoveries should return to the government for the benefit of the taxpayers. I would not be surprised if such an approach would enable the government to cover most of the cost of medications for residents and citizens of the US. It might even cover a large amount of the cost of a single payer health system.
50
A scientific researcher doesn’t control the rights to innovations funded through government funded research. The University where she conducts the research does. They then license the rights to companies that take the risk to develop the product. This is all under the Bayh-Dole act of 1980 specifically to stimulate the commercialization of research. Prior to that the government held the rights but innovation was stifled as the government process was too difficult to navigate. After passage of Bayh-Dole, innovation skyrocketed.
10
@K R
You bring up interesting ideas. Association is not, however, proof of causation, and there are other at least as plausible causes of the increased pace of pharmacologic development since 1982 including molecular biologic innovations such as PCR, cloning and microarray techniques. The government maintaining full rights to innovations developed with the help of public funding would be unfair for the principle investigator (P.I.) and the P.I.’s institution because it would not sufficiently reward the P.I.’s hard work and creativity and encourage pharmacologic interest in bringing the innovation to market. Yet, the government not maintaining any rights to such innovations cheats the tax payer out of profits from the innovation. A compromise that would ensure that the interests of all stakeholders are met is to assign a set percentage, i.e. 10%, government share in any such innovation. The same could also be done for the P.I. and the P.I.’s team. P.I. employing institutions mandating that P.I.’s sign over rights to all the P.I.’s innovations has not always been a universal practice, and is often on terms that are unfair to the innovative P.I. and the P.I.’s team. Preassigned percentage interests can be assigned to all of the stake holders as part of the conditions for receipts of NIH grants (the same could also be done for grants from other sources).
It’s strange that no other leader of our country has come up with the very simple idea of simply ruling the country through Executive Decisions.
Of course, there WAS one who did, a guy named George William Frederick Hanover, but he didn’t call them “Executive Decisions.”
He called them Royal Decrees.
We know him better as King George III.
165
@itsmecraig
Yes, an executive order when there's a real national emergency -- wild fires, earthquakes, imminent death -- is one thing, but ruling by executive order is exactly what we accuse dictatorships of.
@itsmecraig
Based on Trump's prior orders and policies, any order he enters will be for the benefit of big pharma and will have adverse financial benefits for we the people.
I don’t care how he does it. If he really can lower drug prices by Executive Order than by all means do it. Huge drug companies have been making big profits on US drug prices. I don’t think anyone would argue that something must be done. Especially for drugs like insulin which has skyrocketed in price and millions depend on it. These companies are price fixing and making enormous profits. Put a stop to it since Congress won’t due to drug company lobbying and lots of large campaign contributions. Congress is corrupt, face it.
13
I do care how he does it. Bypassing democracy only makes his previously blue color Democratic now Republican base agree with him. And his methods of bypassing democracy and capitalism become justified. Don’t agree. Resist the force.
“I don’t care how he does it.”
Be careful. That sounds very much how Republicans think these days. They have sold their sole to Beelzebub.
Can’t wait until he comes to collect on his deal. And he will.
@Mike L,
"Congress is corrupt, face it."
huh.
And Donald Trump is a choir boy, albeit with bone spurs that don't prevent him from playing football or golf.
Noted.
This is a good start, and I agree in principle with the stated end goal. We in the USA should indeed pay the least of anyone anywhere for said drugs developed within our borders or with our technology or educational system.
15
No, a good start is Congress passing legislation, not an authoritarian ordering it.
@Simon, if you had single payer health care, the USA would have had the biggest bargaining power in the medicine market and the lowest prices. Victim of it's own capitalism again.
All this means is that companies will charge US prices elsewhere, and because demand elsewhere will fall, they will increase prices here to maintain the same level of profitability. States tried this years ago, and it failed miserably.
8
" A policy that would substantially reduce the prices paid for drugs in the United States would have large effects on those companies’ earnings."
Yes.
Their hitherto OBSCENE Profits made at the expense of the sick, uninsured, refused , the tax payer and all those forced to contribute over and above their already costly health insurance and the many who have died or gone bankrupt trying to pay for the drugs they need to live...the Millions of people who have suffered the huge effects on their lives and those who have lost them.
Or should the large effects of providing cheaper prices and of the lives saved affecting Company Earnings be a cause of concern?
The drug companies will still make money and continue to profit.
But no longer at the expense of so many and the consequences forced upon them in order that those profits be kept so unfairly and wrongly high as they have been for so many years.
Hasn't the greed for maximum profit killed enough people yet? Does America have to go through another opioid Tragedy so that a Sackler or a Purdue grabs billions in profits ? Are 400,000 Dead a price worth paying to become richer than ever need to be or can ever spend in 10 lifetimes?
Yeah...reducing drug Prices would have large effects on drug companies’ earnings...
My God....
14
@Loomy
I think the implication was just that investors didn't believe this was a real thing, because if they did the pharmaceutical stocks would have dropped and stayed down rather than dropped and rebounded within the day. Not that the loss of profits for the drug companies is good or bad, just that the market's not acting like anyone actually expects it to happen.
10
Perhaps the President can be more clear once he learns what his team is doing for him. I suppose this could be a winning issue for him but I expect his industry lobbyists will make sure it turns into a win for the pharmaceutical companies who have contributed enough to both parties to earn their continued protection.
22
He’s just opening negotiation with drug companies in his usual way: first threaten with fire and fury and then bring them to the table. Unlike Iran, the drug company lobbyists will come to the table— the private dinner table in some swank DC restaurant where they will cough up big money for Trump’s campaign in exchange for silence on the issue.
It is probably a lot of work to get to the point where prices actually go down, and Trump may not actually get there. But it’s far better to work on this than building walls and starting fights with other countries.
Let’s hope that he can make some real progress on this.
15
Why do you not understand the fact that he wants to bypass Congress? No, it is not a good start, and accomplishes nothing.
He has done similar issues where he announced an executive order to do X, and the order is actually an internal instruction for a department to try to look into considering possible options for X over the next 180 days. Often the press doesn’t help clarify what happened. To my eye if the President picked up the phone and asks a department to look into X in the coming months, please, it’s not that different - though less drama - than an E.O. to look into the matter of X.
13
Something to wonder if many of the President's critics understand how the country works now...
Trump had workers he pleased work during the shutdown, he reassigned National Park money to his 4th of July extravaganza, he basically has stated that the census will include questions he likes, regardless of what some little justices might say, and has had his Border Patrol violate and ignore many a judicial dictum, and will probably do the same in regards to the Wall.
So, an "executive order on drug prices would most likely have no force of law on its own" is a bit questionable. If his excellency decrees, he has decreed.
40
@Yoandel - The 4th of July dedication to the military was far from being "extravagant. Money well spent.
@Lu I would prefer not to see millions earmarked for parks to go to a partisan celebration. Many in the military were unhappy being made into props and would have preferred time off with their families instead.
41
It’s interesting only one member of the JC of S thought it was a good idea to use the military as a prop, whilst on the others planned to be “on vacation”.