UPDATE: President Donald Trump has just announced the launch of a new government website, TrumpRx, designed to allow Americans to purchase prescription drugs directly from the federal government. This groundbreaking initiative, revealed on July 25, 2023, aims to provide significant discounts on medications, with prices potentially slashed by up to 80%.
In a joint press conference with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, Trump emphasized that the new platform will eliminate the need for Americans to seek cheaper medications abroad. “No more Canadian detours to purchase drugs more inexpensively at our neighbor. You do it from home. You do it with a click,” said Chris Klomp, Director of Medicare and Deputy Administrator of CMS.
The website is expected to launch “soon,” although specific details on which prescriptions will be available remain unclear. Experts are already weighing in on the potential impact of the initiative. Health economist Craig Garthwaite from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management expressed skepticism, stating, “Most people need insurance to pay for expensive drugs. Hard to imagine prices here are lower than net prices.”
The announcement comes as the White House also confirmed a deal with Pfizer to provide lower prices for Medicaid. This follows Trump’s earlier executive order mandating that major pharmaceutical companies offer their medications at the “Most Favored Nation” price, based on the lowest available costs in comparable countries.
As the healthcare landscape rapidly evolves, this new platform could have profound implications for millions of Americans seeking affordable medications.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.