Senate Democrats Running Out Of Time On Drug Pricing Reform

16 Mar 2022

Is less ambitious drug pricing reform better than nothing? Senate Finance Committee Chair Wyden still pushing for a version of the most aggressive policy, direct government price negotiation.

Finance Committee Chair Tilting At Windmills? • Source: Alamy

Senate Democrats hoping to reignite momentum behind drug pricing reform legislation continued to promote the direct Medicare price “negotiation” policy included in the now-stalled Build Back Better bill at a 16 March hearing in the Senate Finance Committee. But some Republicans suggested a more pragmatic approach might be to pursue policies that already have bipartisan support.

The negotiation provision has no chance of gaining bipartisan support. (Also see "Medicare Price Negotiation, Inflation Rebate Legislation Would...