Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 18
Trump Says All 50 States Join Medicaid Drug Price Program as Savings Impact Remains Unclear
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 18

Trump Says All 50 States Join Medicaid Drug Price Program as Savings Impact Remains Unclear

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 18

Summary

  • All 50 states have told the Trump administration they want to join Generous, a Medicaid pricing experiment aimed at cutting government spending on some prescription drugs.
  • The program would have participating drugmakers match certain Medicaid prices to those in 8 wealthy countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Canada and Japan.
  • Its practical effect is uncertain because Medicaid already receives steep drug discounts, and enrollees typically pay only a few dollars or nothing for prescriptions — costs that would not change.
  • Trump cast the effort as a way for states to free up money for other health care needs and again tied drug-price cuts to his midterm political message.
  • Public Citizen called the administration's broader drug-pricing push a "charade," underscoring doubts over whether the initiative will materially help Americans.

Insights

Could tying US Medicaid prices to foreign markets inadvertently trigger a global spike in the cost of life-saving medications?
With billions in savings promised, why might states with the strongest existing drug rebates actually lose money under this new system?