Medicare Prescription Drug Negotiation Bill Stalls in Senate

Earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would require the government to negotiate Medicare Part D prescription drug prices with drug companies. (See Congress Debates Medicare Part D Drug Price Negotiating)

Last week, the measure failed to receive enough for votes for a floor debate in the Senate. (Medical News Today) Those who oppose the bill fear that requiring the government to negotiate instead of allowing the market to dictate drug prices will stifle drug research and development.

Senator Harry Reid, a Democrat, told the New York Times, “The Department of Veterans Affairs is able to negotiate for lower-priced drugs. HMOs can negotiate. Wal-Mart can negotiate. Why in the world shouldn’t Medicare be able to do that?”

Texas Republican John Cornyn said the drug price negotiation bill was a “step down the road to a single-payer, government-run health care system.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowed to keep pushing the bill. She told The Hill that her party “will keep fighting until this bill is signed into law and seniors and people with disabilities have access to affordable prescription drugs.”