Supreme Court rejects appeals from drugmakers over Medicare price negotiations
Summary
The Supreme Court rejected pharmaceutical companies' appeals against a program that lets the federal government negotiate drug prices for Medicare. This program, created by a 2022 law, aims to lower costs for certain high-priced medicines for older adults.Key Facts
- The Supreme Court did not comment but left in place a lower court decision favoring the negotiation program.
- The program was established by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
- It requires the government to negotiate prices for some costly Medicare drugs every year.
- The first price negotiations started in 2026.
- No Republicans voted for the law, which was signed by then-President Joe Biden.
- The government has negotiated prices on 25 drugs so far, including popular weight-loss and diabetes medications like Ozempic.
- The Trump administration announced a third round of price negotiations, aiming to cover 40 drugs in total.
- Pharmaceutical companies oppose the program, suggesting other ways to lower costs, such as regulating insurers.
- Ending the program would require new legislation from Congress, as the law does not set an end date.
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