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The
announcement was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The
rules are expected to be final and follow up on executive orders
that Trump signed in July and September.
One rule, known as "most favored nation," would require Medicare
to tie the prices it pays for drugs to those paid by other
wealthy countries. The other rule would limit rebates paid to
middlemen in Medicare.
Medicare, which covers older Americans and those with
disabilities, is currently prohibited from negotiating the
prices it pays to drugmakers.
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a drug
industry lobby group known as PhRMA, reiterated its opposition
to most favored nation drug pricing. A PhRMA spokesperson said
the group was "considering all options" to stop the rule.
By contrast, the PhRMA spokesperson said the rebate rule was a
"commonsense approach" that would pave the way for rebates and
discounts that pharmacy benefit managers receive from drugmakers
to be passed on to Medicare recipients.
It is not clear whether the incoming Biden administration will
keep the rules.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; additional reporting Mrinalika Roy;
by Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Mohammad Zargham, David
Gregorio and Tom Brown)
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