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<strong><img class="alignright wp-image-5116 size-medium" src="https://healthlawupdate.bakerhostetlerblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2019/05/1200x630Washington-DC-iStock_000074771283_Blog-image_lt-blue-e1549910644100-300x158.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="158" />PELOSI INTRODUCES DRUG PRICING BILL WHILE TRUMP PUSHES SENATE VERSION</strong>

House Democrats <a href="https://www.rollcall.com/news/democrats-detail-drug-price-negotiation-bill">introduced legislation</a> last week to lower prescription drug prices – including allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with manufacturers – and set an <a href="https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/91919-2">aggressive timeline</a> to approve the bill by Halloween.

The legislation would allow the government to negotiate prices annually for at least 25 of the highest-cost brand-name drugs that lack generic or biosimilar competition in the Medicare Part D and Part B programs. It also would require manufacturers to cover 30% of the costs of Part D catastrophic coverage, which Medicare currently covers.

Republicans <a href="https://www.republicanleader.gov/house-leadership-joint-statement-on-the-democrat-drug-pricing-plan/">criticized the proposal</a>, focusing on the behind-closed-doors process by which Democratic leaders developed the legislation. But Republicans lack the votes to stop it – or even amend it – in the House, where rules give majority Democrats the power to advance their bill.

<strong><a href="https://www.ohioclock.com/2019/09/capitol-hill-healthcare-update-34/">Read more on BakerHostetler’s Ohio Clock blog &gt;&gt;</a></strong>

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update