First 10 drugs for Medicare price negotiations released

A CONTENTIOUS NEGOTIATION PROCESS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IS SET TO BEGIN.

PRESIDENT BIDEN’S “INFLATION REDUCTION ACT” PASSED LAST YEAR –

GAVE MEDICARE THE AUTHORITY TO **NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES WITH PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.

AND IF DRUG MAKERS DON’T COMPLY – THEY FACE A HEFTY EXCISE TAX.

IT’S BIDEN’S WAY TO FORCE THE HAND OF WHAT HE CALLS “BIG PHARMA” TO DROP DRUG PRICES OR PAY A PENALTY.

TODAY WE’RE GETTING OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE  MEDICINES MEDICARE WANTS DRUGMAKERS  TO LOWER THE COSTS OF FIRST.

THESE 10 DRUGS UP ON YOUR SCREEN – FROM POPULAR BLOOD THINNERS TO DIABETES MEDICATION – ARE THE FIRST ONES TO ENTER THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS.

MEDICARE WILL WORK TO SET NEW PRICE POINTS FOR EACH OF THESE –

AND PRESENT THEIR OFFER TO DRUG MAKERS IN FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR.

THE DRUGMAKERS – WILL HAVE UNTIL AUGUST 2024 TO COME TO AN AGREED OFFER.

THEN – THE NEWLY NEGOTIATED LOWER PRICES –

WOULD TAKE EFFECT IN 2026.

BUT THE DRUG INDUSTRY –

SAYS FORCING THE COMPANIES TO LOWER COSTS ON THEIR PRODUCTS –

IS **UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THE COMPANIES – LIKE MERK AND JOHNSON AND JOHNSON –

ARE SUING THE GOVERNMENT –

AND HOPING TO TAKE THE LEGAL FIGHT ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT.

Robert Josephson, Merck’s executive director of global media relations

“By coercing Merck to provide its drug products at government-set prices, the Program takes property for public use without just compensation in violation of the Fifth Amendment.”

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ARGUES BIG PHARMA IS JUST TRYING TO PROTECT BIG PROFITS.

THE PRESIDENT SAID QUOTE – “They’re suing us to block us from negotiating lower prices so they can pad their profits. We’re going to see this through. We’re going to keep standing up to Big Pharma.”

AS OF NOW –

TALKS BETWEEN MEDICARE AND DRUGMAKERS  ARE SET TO HAPPEN –

WITH 10 DRUGS FIRST ON THE LIST TO NEGOTIATE –

WITH DOZENS MORE IN THE QUEUE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EXPECTS MEDICARE TO SAVE AN ESTIMATED 98 **BILLION DOLLARS OVER A DECADE UNDER NEW PRESCRIPTION PRICING.