Lowering Drug Prices by Putting America First

2020-09-18Executive Order 13947
Signed by: Donald Trump
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Headline: Limits Medicare Part B Prices to Lowest International Rates

What it does: Agencies must implement and test a payment model capping Medicare Part B payments at the most-favored-nation price.

Real World Impact:
  • Lowers Medicare payments for certain high-cost Part B drugs to international lowest prices.
  • May reduce out-of-pocket costs for seniors and other Part B beneficiaries.
  • Directs the health agency to test a payment model and change pricing rules.
Topics: drug prices, Medicare policy, healthcare costs, seniors, federal spending

Summary

This order directs the government to limit what Medicare pays for certain expensive Part B prescription drugs to the lowest prices paid in comparable developed countries. It defines the most-favored-nation price as the lowest adjusted price a manufacturer charges in similar high-income countries.

Medicare Part B beneficiaries, especially seniors, and taxpayers would be affected. The Department of Health and Human Services must test a payment model to carry out this change.

This matters because it aims to lower drug costs and reduce financial strain on patients and the government.

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