In this engaging discussion, Sheryl Gay Stolberg, a health policy correspondent for The New York Times, and Rebecca Robbins, a business reporter specializing in the pharmaceutical industry, explore the historic overhaul empowering Medicare to negotiate drug prices. They dive into the intense lobbying efforts from drugmakers to resist these changes and the potential effects on medication costs for older Americans. The guests shed light on how this could reshape the pharmaceutical landscape, balancing corporate profitability with patient affordability.
The Biden administration is implementing a major change in Medicare that allows for direct negotiation of drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, aiming to lower drug prices and reduce the financial burden on Medicare patients.
The recent change allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices represents a long-awaited correction to previous shortcomings in Medicare's prescription drug coverage and could pave the way for future regulations and negotiations in the pharmaceutical industry.
Deep dives
Medicare's Paradigm Shift: Direct Drug Price Negotiation
The Biden administration has announced a major change in Medicare, allowing for the direct negotiation of drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. This paradigm shift aims to lower drug prices, as Americans currently pay prices that are two and a half times higher than comparable countries. Medicare, which previously did not cover prescription drugs, will now begin negotiations for 10 drugs related to chronic conditions. This change marks the most significant shift in the US healthcare system since the Affordable Care Act. The ultimate goal is to reduce the financial burden on Medicare patients and make healthcare more affordable.
The Evolution of Medicare's Prescription Drug Coverage
Medicare's prescription drug coverage has undergone a significant evolution. Before 2000, there was no coverage, leaving older Americans struggling to afford their medications. The issue gained political attention during the 2000 presidential campaign, with Al Gore pushing for an expansion of Medicare to cover drugs. Eventually, in 2003, under the Bush administration, a Medicare prescription drug bill was passed, but it included a non-interference clause preventing the government from directly negotiating drug prices. This limitation led to high drug costs and a sense of unfulfilled promises. The recent change allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices represents a long-awaited correction to the previous shortcomings.
Implications and Controversies Surrounding Medicare's Drug Price Negotiation
The move to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies is not without controversy. The pharmaceutical industry has fiercely opposed the change, arguing that it will lead to loss of profits and hinder research and development of new treatments. These claims are met with skepticism, as the negotiated prices could potentially benefit not only Medicare patients but also impact private insurance prices. This change is part of a broader effort to address the soaring drug prices in the United States and could pave the way for future regulations and negotiations in the pharmaceutical industry.
A year ago, Congress overhauled the way drugs for older Americans get paid for, by giving Medicare the power to bargain with drug makers over prices in the biggest change to health care for more than a decade. This week, the Biden administration began its implementation.
Sheryl Gay Stolberg, who covers health policy for The Times, discusses the decades long battle for bargaining power and Rebecca Robbins, who covers the pharmaceutical industry for The Times, explains its potential to reshape the business of drugs in America.
Guest: Sheryl Gay Stolberg, a Washington correspondent covering health policy for The New York Times.
Rebecca Robbins, a business reporter for The New York Times covering the pharmaceutical industry.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode