Trump Officials Plan to Test New Medicare Drug Pricing Rules

The Trump administration is considering a new regulatory pilot project from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to address drug pricing in Medicare. The project is currently under review at the White House budget office, indicating the administration's interest in taking regulatory action against pharmaceutical companies, despite its recent deals with individual companies. The proposed pilot project aims to test new approaches to Medicare drug pricing, a key issue that has faced growing public scrutiny. The administration's move suggests it is seeking to find ways to curb rising drug costs, even as it has negotiated agreements with some pharmaceutical firms. The review of the CMS proposal at the White House budget office suggests the administration is actively exploring regulatory options to address the drug pricing challenge, in addition to its previous negotiation-based approach. The outcome of this review and the potential implementation of the pilot project could have significant implications for the healthcare industry and Medicare beneficiaries.