Today, U.S. President Donald Trump signed four executive orders aimed at lowering the prices Americans pay for prescription drugs. The orders direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take several steps to deliver for American patients lower costs on prescription drugs, including insulin and epinephrine, and ensure patients are getting the lowest price possible.

According to the Associated Press, the four orders would:

• Allow states, wholesalers and pharmacies to import FDA-approved drugs from foreign countries and sell them in the U.S. The order includes a special provision to allow wholesalers and pharmacies to re-import insulin and biological drugs.
• Use the lowest price among other economically advanced countries to set what Medicare pays for certain drugs administered in a doctor’s office, including many cancer medications. This would apply to the most expensive medications covered by Medicare’s “Part B,” which pays for outpatient care. 
• Direct federally funded community health centers to pass discounts they now get for insulin and EpiPens directly to low-income patients.
• Ensure that rebates drugmakers now pay to benefit managers and insurers get passed directly to patients when they buy a medication. 

This story is developing and additional updates are likely.

AACE has long advocated for patient access to medical care and affordable prescription medications. In 2019, AACE launched an updated PrescriptionHelp.com that connects patients and caregivers with resources to assist with their prescription costs.