From Newsweek · · 2m
Trump Announces All-States Medicaid Drug Pricing Plan
Trump's new Medicaid drug pricing model unites all 50 states as Democrats target healthcare affordability in midterms.
In brief
Trump's new Medicaid drug pricing model unites all 50 states as Democrats target healthcare affordability in midterms. Trump announced all 50 states will adopt his Medicaid drug pricing model to lower prescription costs, a move Republicans hope boosts their midterm election prospects. Originally reported by Newsweek.
Trump Announces All-States Medicaid Drug Pricing Plan
President Donald Trump announced Friday that all 50 states will participate in the administration's Medicaid GENEROUS drug-pricing model to lower prescription medicine costs through international reference pricing.
Republicans Target Healthcare Affordability
The announcement gives Republicans a new healthcare policy achievement to promote as Democrats seek to make healthcare affordability and prescription drug costs key issues in November's midterm elections.
Trump's Midterm Strategy
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that this one thing alone should win them the midterms, though he noted the press doesn't report it.
How the GENEROUS Model Works
The GENEROUS model, short for 'GENErating cost Reductions fOr U.S. Medicaid,' uses international price benchmarks to negotiate lower prescription drug costs for Medicaid programs.
International Price Benchmarking
CMS calculates an MFN price using manufacturer-reported pricing data from eight countries: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, Denmark and Switzerland.
State Participation Details
States can choose which eligible drugs they want covered under the model but must adopt standardized coverage criteria negotiated by CMS and manufacturers.
Savings Estimates and Uncertainties
The White House previously estimated a Medicaid MFN framework could save $64.3 billion over 10 years, though analysts say savings depend on which drugs and manufacturers participate.
Voter Concerns on Healthcare
66 percent of Americans worry about healthcare affordability, while 55 percent report increased healthcare costs over the previous year.
Party Trust in Healthcare
Democrats hold a 13-point advantage over Republicans on which party voters trust more to handle healthcare costs.
Prescription Drug Trust Split
Voters are nearly evenly divided on which party they trust more to address prescription drug prices, with 35 percent choosing Democrats and 30 percent selecting Republicans.
Republican Response
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised the effort, telling Trump, 'You're the only person who could have gotten this done' and described it as a potential 'generational change in our country's health care.'
“You're the only person who could have gotten this done”
Midterm Election Outlook
Democrats lead Republicans by 8.6 percentage points in mid-September generic congressional ballot surveys, though the GENEROUS model provides Republicans a tangible healthcare initiative to highlight.
In short
Trump announced all 50 states will adopt his Medicaid drug pricing model to lower prescription costs, a move Republicans hope boosts their midterm election prospects.
