Orders to Cut Drug Costs

In an effort to revive an important promise made to the American people prior to his election in 2016, President Trump recently signed 3 executive orders aimed at bringing the cost of prescription drugs more in line with what consumers in other countries pay. One order, directed at Medicare Part D plans, would require that PBMs pass discounts or manufacturer’s rebates directly to consumers rather than to their health plans.

A second order would permit individuals to import lower cost drugs from other countries, including Canada, and re-import insulin. The third order is intended to provide uninsured or underinsured individuals with life-saving medications such as insulin and epinephrine. It is doubtful that these executive orders will yield any immediate relief to consumers since legislative bodies and federal agencies will need to follow government protocols in order to put the orders into practice.