Drug Pricing Policy and the Executive Branch

MODERATOR: Meg Alexander

Congress and the White House have seemed at odds on many things but united in at least one – that drug prices are too high. And candidates vying for the presidency have made it a top campaign issue. The ideas gaining traction in public discourse are increasingly aggressive, ranging from international price referencing, to inflationary caps, to effectively pulling company patents in the name of the public good. In an era where a starkly partisan Congress can’t seem to agree on anything legislative, what policies can the president enact through executive action alone? And if the office changes hands in 2020, what shifts in drug pricing policy can we expect to see? This panel will take a deep dive into executive authority on healthcare policy, discuss what is and is not possible, and how things may change under a new administration. Perspectives will be shared by former FDA officials and congressional staff, and drug manufacturers.