Lawmakers battle Trump, PhRMA on discount drug rule

Source: The Hill

Lawmakers in both parties are seeking to block the Trump administration’s changes to a Medicare drug discount program, arguing it would have a negative impact on hospitals that serve low-income people.

A rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) slated to go into effect on Jan. 1 would result in $1.6 billion in cuts to “safety net” hospitals that serve a significant number of low-income patients under the so-called 340B drug discount program.

The changes backed by large pharmaceutical companies have drawn the ire of hundreds of lawmakers on Capitol Hill, prompted lawsuits from major hospital groups and inspired expensive ad campaigns.

Now the lawmakers are seeking to block the change in a must-pass spending bill, possibly with a one-year moratorium on instituting the rule.

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Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/364818-lawmakers-battle-trump-phrma-on-discount-drug-rule