Biden pushing lower prescription drug costs in midterm press
October 15, 2022 GMTIRVINE, California (AP) — President Joe Biden is highlighting his administration’s efforts to lower prescription drug costs on Friday as part of his three-state Western tour this week, as he confronts a sobering inflation report in the waning weeks before midterm elections.
Americans give health care system failing mark: AP-NORC poll
September 12, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — When Emmanuel Obeng-Dankwa is worried about making rent on his New York City apartment, he sometimes holds off on filling his blood pressure medication.
“If there’s no money, I prefer to skip the medication to being homeless,” said Obeng-Dankwa, a 58-year-old security guard.
Biden signs massive climate and health care legislation
August 16, 2022 GMTWhat’s in big Biden bill? Health, climate goals become law
August 16, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden arrived at the White House promising to “build back” America, and legislation he signed Tuesday delivers a slimmer, though not insignificant, version of that once sweeping idea.
In Biden’s big bill: Climate, health care, deficit reduction
August 12, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The biggest investment ever in the U.S. to fight climate change.
What’s in Democrats’ big bill? Climate, health care, savings
August 7, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Not as robust as the proposal President Joe Biden once envisioned to rebuild America's public infrastructure and family support systems, the Democrats' compromise of health care, climate change and deficit-reduction strategies is still a substantial undertaking.
Deal on Capitol Hill could ease seniors’ health costs
July 28, 2022 GMTA deal on Capitol Hill that could cut prescription drug costs for millions of Medicare beneficiaries was cautiously cheered by older Americans and their advocates Thursday even as many worried it might never come to fruition.
Q&A: Direct Relief CEO Thomas Tighe on how to help Ukraine
April 29, 2022 GMTThomas Tighe says helping Ukrainians can generally be done by using existing aid strategies. It’s just a matter of scale and adapting to circumstances on the ground.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Tighe and the nonprofit humanitarian medical organization Direct Relief, where he has been president and CEO since 2000, have provided more than 50 million doses of medication and 254 tons of medical aid to people in Ukraine and neighboring countries.
Gov. Baker: Bill would expand mental health care services
March 15, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker unveiled a bill Tuesday that he said would help expand access to primary care and mental health services and help control rising health care and prescription drug costs.
Whitmer signs bills to regulate pharmacy benefit managers
February 23, 2022 GMTDELTA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday signed bipartisan bills into law that are designed to reduce prescription drug costs by regulating pharmacy benefit managers that oversee coverage for employers, insurers and others.
$56K Alzheimer’s drug avoiding Biden’s cost curbs, for now
December 8, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — A new $56,000-a-year Alzheimer’s medication that’s leading to one of the biggest increases ever in Medicare premiums is highlighting the limitations of President Joe Biden’s strategy for curbing prescription drug costs.
Biden touts savings on insulin and other drugs for Americans
December 6, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden pledged Monday that his social agenda legislation would deliver tangible savings on prescription drugs for all Americans. Relief that consumers have clamored for is now in sight, he asserted.
Democrats reach drug price deal, Biden upbeat on Manchin
November 2, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats reached agreement Tuesday on a plan to lower prescription drug costs for most older people, capping out-of-pocket Medicare costs at $2,000 and reducing the price of insulin, salvaging a campaign promise as part of President Joe Biden's $1.75 trillion domestic policy proposal.
Groups make own drugs to fight high drug prices, shortages
August 10, 2021 GMTImpatient with years of inaction in Washington on prescription drug costs, U.S. hospital groups, startups and nonprofits have started making their own medicines in a bid to combat stubbornly high prices and persistent shortages of drugs with little competition.
Evers revives plan to lower prescription drug costs
August 4, 2021 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers revived his plan Wednesday to lower prescription drug costs after Republicans stripped it out of the state budget, re-introducing the measures as stand-alone legislation.
Democrats see springboard for health care in high court win
June 19, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — With the Affordable Care Act now secure in the framework of the nation's health care programs, Democrats are eager to leap above and beyond.
They want to expand insurance coverage for working-age people and their families, add new benefits to Medicare for older people and reduce prescription drug costs for patients and taxpayers.
Florida urges US to import less expensive Canadian drugs
May 28, 2021 GMTFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — After two years of lobbying to lower prescription drug costs for Floridians, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday he's waiting for final approval from the Biden administration to import drugs from Canada, which he said would save tens of millions of dollars.
Senate confirms Brooks-LaSure to run health care programs
May 25, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Tuesday confirmed President Joe Biden’s pick to run U.S. health insurance programs, putting in place a key player who’ll carry out his strategy for expanding affordable coverage and reining in prescription drug costs.
Gianforte signs 2 bills to reduce prescription drug costs
May 13, 2021 GMTHELENA, Mont. (AP) — Beginning this fall, all Montana physicians will be able to dispense medications they prescribe to patients, not just those whose offices are at least 10 miles (about 16 kilometers) away from a pharmacy.
Lamont, Baker tout similar plans to curb high drug costs
April 6, 2021 GMTThe Democratic governor of Connecticut and the Republican governor of Massachusetts joined forces Tuesday to publicly pitch similar legislative proposals for curbing prescription drug costs, plans that would financially penalize drug manufacturers for excessive price increases...
HHS pick says pandemic is top job, but agenda is broader
February 23, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Health secretary nominee Xavier Becerra told senators Tuesday that confronting the coronavirus pandemic will be his first priority if confirmed, but he also pledged to expand health insurance, rein in prescription drug costs and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in medical care...
Trump makes late-term bid to lower prescription drug costs
November 20, 2020 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Trying to close out major unfinished business, the Trump administration issued regulations Friday that could lower the prices Americans pay for many prescription drugs...
If the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act, Trump’s health care order is not enough to replace it
October 6, 2020 GMT(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Georgia bill aims to take on prescription drug costs
March 4, 2020 GMTATLANTA (AP) — A bill approved by Georgia’s state House on Wednesday would restrict what one lawmaker called “heinous” practices by pharmacy benefit managers — companies that run prescription drug coverage for insurers and other groups...
Utah sends employees to Mexico for lower prescription prices
February 9, 2020 GMTSALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Ann Lovell had never owned a passport before last year. Now, the 62-year-old teacher is a frequent flier, traveling every few months to Tijuana, Mexico, to buy medication for rheumatoid arthritis — with tickets paid for by the state of Utah’s public insurer...
Plan to import cheaper Canadian drugs advances under Trump
December 18, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration, eager to show progress on prescription drug costs, on Wednesday moved forward with its plan to allow Americans to safely and legally get access to lower-priced medicines from abroad...
Correction: Prescription Drugs story
November 18, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — In a story Nov. 18 about the White House push for prescription drug legislation, The Associated Press misspelled the first name of the executive director of Families USA...
1 in 2 seriously ill Medicare enrollees struggles with bills
November 4, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — More than half of seriously ill Medicare enrollees face financial hardships with medical bills, with prescription drug costs the leading problem, according to a study published Monday...
Can Washington deliver on drug costs amid impeachment probe?
September 29, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Major legislation to reduce prescription drug costs for millions of people may get sidelined now that House Democrats have begun an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump...
Donald who? Pelosi, Democrats vow to ‘own August’ on issues
July 25, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Democrats on Thursday pivoted away from questions of impeachment by saying they are going to "own" the upcoming August recess on issues like health care and prescription drug costs...
GOP, Dems offer compromise to reduce drug costs for seniors
July 23, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Two veteran senators — a Republican and a Democrat — unveiled compromise legislation Tuesday to reduce prescription drug costs for millions of Medicare recipients, while saving money for federal and state health care programs serving seniors and low-income people...
Setbacks for Trump’s drive to lower prescription drug costs
July 11, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — After two setbacks this week, President Donald Trump is now focusing his drive to curb drug costs on congressional efforts aimed at helping people on Medicare and younger generations covered by workplace plans...
GOP, Democrats team up to address surprise medical bills
May 23, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Plunging ahead despite paralyzing partisanship in the nation's capital, senior lawmakers of both parties Thursday proposed legislation to tackle surprise medical bills and other concerns, from prescription drug costs to uneven vaccination rates.
Trump backs Fla. plan to import lower-cost meds from abroad
May 9, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — In a move sure to get attention in a 2020 battleground state, President Donald Trump indicated Thursday that his administration may approve a Florida plan to import lower-cost prescription drugs from abroad for use by residents...
Group with consumer-friendly vibe pushes drugmakers’ message
March 18, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — As ominous music plays in the background, the narrator of a radio ad warns that a Trump administration proposal to apply international pricing to certain Medicare drugs would be a nightmare for seniors...
Trump’s cuts to Medicare hospital payments trigger an outcry
March 12, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are accusing President Donald Trump of going back on his campaign promise to protect Medicare after he introduced a 2020 budget that calls for steep cuts in Medicare payments to hospitals.
Trump plan would channel prescription discounts to patients
February 1, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration Thursday unveiled a plan to channel now-hidden prescription drug rebates directly to patients, saying it would bypass middlemen and lower prices for consumers...
Pelosi works her health care strategy from the ground up
January 22, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is laying out her strategy on health care and first up is improvements to "Obamacare" and legislation to lower prescription drug costs...
House investigators launch probe of soaring drug prices
January 14, 2019 GMTHouse Democrats launched a broad probe Monday into high prescription drug costs, saying the rapid rise in prices is "unsustainable" and soaking taxpayers and patients alike.
Rep. Elijah Cummings, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, sent letters to a dozen drug companies seeking documents on their recent price hikes, strategies to maintain market share and investments in new cures.
House Dems announce sweeping investigation of drug pricing
January 14, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats announced a sweeping investigation Monday of the pharmaceutical industry's pricing practices, jockeying for the upper hand with the Trump administration on an issue that concerns Americans across the political spectrum...
With more info, House wants to fight rising drug costs
May 4, 2018 GMTHARTFORD — Connecticut’s strongest effort yet to curb skyrocketing prescription drug costs unanimously passed the House Friday.
The approved bill seeks to rein in drug prices by increasing price transparency, establishing a trigger point at which manufacturers must explain cost spikes and forcing drugmakers to reveal available rebates.
Winners and losers under Medicare drug plan in Trump budget
February 13, 2018 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Some Medicare beneficiaries would face higher prescription drug costs under President Donald Trump's budget even as the sickest patients save thousands of dollars, a complex trade-off that may make it harder to sell Congress on the plan in an election year...
States look to lower drug costs, consider Canadian imports
February 11, 2018 GMTMONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Lawmakers in more than two-thirds of the states are considering ways to reduce prescription drug costs, including importing them from Canada, as they strive to balance budgets without knowing for sure what their government's share of the tab will be...
On drug costs, modest steps follow Trump’s big promises
February 11, 2018 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump makes big promises to reduce prescription drug costs, but his administration is gravitating to relatively modest steps such as letting Medicare patients share in manufacturer rebates...
Trump proposes reduction of drug costs under Medicare
February 9, 2018 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will propose lowering prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries by allowing them to share in rebates that drug companies pay to insurers and middlemen, an administration official said...
Trump aims to reduce drug costs under Medicare
February 9, 2018 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will propose lowering prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries by allowing them to share in rebates that drug companies pay to insurers and middlemen, an administration official said Thursday...
The Latest: Trump aims to reduce drug costs under Medicare
February 9, 2018 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on proposals by President Donald Trump and in the Senate budget bill to lower drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries (all times local):...
New deals for drugs: No heart attack or your money back
May 3, 2017 GMTTRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Warranties and money-back guarantees, long used to entice buyers of products like hand tools and kitchen gadgets, are now being used to sell something more crucial: pricey new-generation drugs for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.