SAM BARKE: Big Pharma is secretly trying to undermine Trump… again

If Republicans want to support President Trump in fulfilling his promises, reducing expenses for seniors, and controlling the excessive influence of Big Pharma, they should turn down the EPIC Act.

President Donald Trump has made quick progress by fulfilling two major campaign commitments: ending wasteful government spending and reducing costs for Americans. His new Executive Order to decrease prescription drug prices demonstrates his dedication to these goals. This order builds upon a key campaign issue he has advocated for since 2016, which is utilizing government authority to negotiate better drug prices for Medicare. It seeks to surpass the anticipated $6 billion in savings for taxpayers from initial negotiations.

However, a significant challenge to this progress is progressing through Congress. The EPIC Act (H.R. 1492) – a bill supported by Big Pharma and masked as a pro-innovation measure – would limit President Trump’s abilities, hindering his aim under the executive order to surpass the savings from the previous administration and restricting his capacity to secure the best deal for American taxpayers.

This legislation would postpone the eligibility for Medicare negotiation of common drugs like Eliquis and Trelegy, extending the exemption period for small-molecule drugs from 9 to 13 years. This means an additional four years where drug companies can continue charging exorbitant prices, resulting in billions in lost taxpayer funds. It is a clear favoritism towards pharmaceutical companies at the expense of the very seniors and working families that Trump seeks to shield.

Pharma argues it requires this time to recuperate research and development costs, yet the evidence does not support this claim. These companies already benefit from billions in research funding from taxpayers through NIH, and many of the drugs in question have been on the market for years, generating substantial profits. Small-molecule drugs are also cheaper to produce and distribute than biologics. There is no valid reason for this $10 billion benefit to pharma – only a lobbyist-driven attempt to stave off competition and maintain high prices.

Reducing prescription drug prices has been a significant aspect of President Trump’s agenda for years. In 2016, he was among the first to propose that Medicare should negotiate drug prices. He correctly highlighted that the country overpays for drugs due to drug lobbies that are “getting away with murder.” Hence, his recent executive order on drug prices is a positive step. However, the EPIC Act could derail his efforts.

A recent poll conducted by Trump’s pollster reveals that Republican voters, particularly in battleground districts, overwhelmingly support initiatives to secure a better deal for Americans through Medicare negotiation, and believe that drug companies prioritize profits over improving people’s lives.

Republicans should reject the EPIC Act if they wish to aid President Trump in fulfilling his commitments, decreasing costs for seniors, and restraining the unchecked influence of Big Pharma. This act directly challenges President Trump’s leadership on this matter and would impede him and his congressional allies from reducing drug prices and delivering actual savings for Americans.