February 06,2018

Press Contact:

Taylor Harvey (202) 224-4515 

Trump's Unfilled Prescription for Lower Drug Prices

Despite a Dozen Promises, President Has Done Nothing to Reduce Pharmacy Bill for Americans

Bringing down the high cost of prescription medicine was one of Trump’s headline promises on the 2016 campaign trail. A little more than a year later, that promise has been all talk and no action. Since his election, Trump has promised at least twelve times that he is going to take action to lower drug prices. Trump hasn’t lifted a finger to tackle this problem for middle-class Americans.

Meanwhile, Americans across the country are paying the price for Trump’s inaction. While the president talks about moving on to “promises plus,” parents are trying to find a way to pay for their child’s medicine. Older Americans are weighing their retirement accounts against the monster pharmacy bills they’re paying to manage their chronic illnesses. Working Americans are falling behind because their wages aren’t keeping up with rising drug prices.

So, Mr. President, when are you going to fill America’s prescription for lower drug prices?

The record is clear:

What Trump Said:

“The other thing we have to do is create new bidding procedures for the drug industry because they're getting away with murder.” (January 11, 2017)

“We have to lower the drug prices.” (January 31, 2017)

“My new thing is going to be Pharma because we pay too much with the largest drug purchaser in the world.” (February 5, 2017)

“There's no competition and we're going to get competition in that business and it'll be good for everybody and ultimately Pharma." (February 27, 2017)

“We are going to get drug prices so far lower than they are now. Your head will spin.” (March 15, 2017)

“We're going to reduce drug prices.” (March 15, 2017)

“We have to do it and we're going to get drug prices way down, way down.” (March 22, 2017)

“Drug prices are ridiculous. And I am going to get them way, way, way down.” (April 21, 2017)

“The drug companies, frankly, are getting away with murder” (October, 16, 2017)

“So we're subsidizing the world in terms of prescription drugs. It's ridiculous. And it's going to stop.” (October 25, 2017)

“We have to get the prices of prescription drugs way down and unravel the tangled web of special interests that are driving prices up for medicine and for really hurting patients. And we're going to get that done. That's going to be so important.” (January 29, 2018)

“That is why I have directed my Administration to make fixing the injustice of high drug prices one of our top priorities for the year. And prices will come down substantially. Watch.” (January 30, 2018)

What Actually Happened:

  • Pfizer raises US prices of 91 drugs by 20% in 2017 (FT, 6/2/17)
  • Drugmakers raise 2018 U.S. prices, stick to self-imposed limits (Reuters, 1/2/18)
  • Trump's drug price 'remedy' expected to be industry friendly (Politico, 6/16/17)
  • Buried in Trump’s executive order on drug pricing is a windfall clause for pharma (STAT News, 7/12/17)
  • Trump Likely To Sign Executive Order On Drug Pricing 'Any Day' (IBD, 10/16/17)
  • Trump’s abandoned promise to bring down drug prices (Vox, 1/30/18)

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