Patient advocacy group leaders are raising concerns about what they characterize as recent attempts by government entities to limit who can publicly represent the patient perspective in discussions about drug costs.
Who Can Represent Patients? Advocates Worry They Are Being Pushed Out Of The Conversation
Patient advocacy groups suggest US state and federal agencies are trying to exclude them from certain conversations due to drug industry connections and perceived bias.

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A Republican think tank suggested variations of the Most Favored Nation and international reference policies in Medicare and Medicaid, as well as tariffs and other trade levers to rebalance drug pricing disparities between US countries and abroad.
Democrats opposed the nomination because they believe Mehmet Oz will not defend Medicaid from spending cuts. His pledge to continue lowering drug costs in Medicare and Medicaid did not offset the concerns.
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Sponsors should consider the DTC ad's audio as the major statement about a prescription drug’s side effects and then choose strategically how to display the accompanying text. TV ads are now employing banners and larger text to satisfy the rule’s “dual modality” requirement.
Given the Trump Administration’s intense focus on cutting costs and increasing efficiency, industry and the FDA should focus on what is and is not working in PDUFA VII when negotiating the next agreement, lobbyists said at the BIO CEO and Investor Conference.
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