STAT+: How Trump’s latest pharma deals may undermine efforts to rein in drug costs

WASHINGTON — The White House announced more drug pricing deals on Monday, this time with midsize biotechnology companies. In doing so, President Trump once again grabbed headlines on a topic he believes will benefit Republicans in the midterm elections. But the voluntary deals might not amount to much, at least not immediately, according to analysts. That’s because they chiefly apply to Medicaid, which by law gets the lowest prices of any U.S. payer, while exempting companies from mandatory price reductions in Medicare. The idea behind the agreements, called most-favored nation, or MFN, is that the United States should pay prices comparable to peer nations. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily intelligence on Capitol Hill and the life sciences industry — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe