Biden May Have to Settle for Smaller Drug-Pricing Moves
As is the case for other flavors of health care reform, President-elect Joe Biden’s chance of passing substantial, transformative drug-pricing legislation is now highly dependent upon whether Democrats can eke out a majority in the Senate. While that question won’t be resolved until Georgia completes runoff elections in January, industry observers point out that there are ways that a Biden administration can address drug pricing through its regulatory authority — plus areas where even a split Congress might have enough common ground to pass legislation.
“A president can do a lot even with a divided Congress,” says Stephanie Kennan, a member of McGuireWoods Consulting’s federal public affairs group and former senior health policy adviser to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) “Part of how well something gets done…depends upon the skills of the president or those negotiating for him. With Biden perhaps having a better understanding of the Senate, having come from the Senate, [that] might help him.”
Meet Our Reporters
-
Jill Drachenberg Reporter, Health Plan Weekly and Radar on Drug Benefits
View Jill Drachenberg's Profile -
Lauren Flynn Kelly Executive Editor, AIS Health, and Managing Editor, Radar on Medicare Advantage
View Lauren Flynn Kelly's Profile -
Angela Maas Managing Editor, Radar on Specialty Pharmacy and Spotlight on Market Access
View Angela Maas's Profile -
Leslie Small Managing Editor, Health Plan Weekly and Radar on Drug Benefits
View Leslie Small's Profile -
Tim Casey Reporter, Health Plan Weekly and Radar on Drug Benefits
View Tim Casey's Profile -
Carina Belles Reporter, Radar on Medicare Advantage and Spotlight on Market Access
View Carina Belles's Profile -
Jinghong Chen Reporter, Health Plan Weekly and Radar on Drug Benefits
View Jinghong Chen's Profile
