What's the fuss with Bernie Sanders' new drug pricing bill? - STAT

What's the fuss with Bernie Sanders' new drug pricing bill? - STAT

As Congress gets into gear, lawmakers take aim at drug prices 

A group of Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), is planning to unveil a legislative package today that aims to "drastically reduce prescription drug prices" in the U.S. Here's the rundown:

• One measure would allow Americans to import drugs from Canada for personal use. The measures mirrors a proposal unveiled yesterday by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican and the new chair of the Senate Finance Committee. Grassley also said yesterday he'll bring back two other bills on drug pricing as top priorities. 
• Another bill would direct the HHS secretary to negotiate with drug makers for lower prices under Medicare Part D. Klobuchar and a bipartisan group in the House already introduced a similar measure this week.
• The third bill would tie U.S. drug prices to the median price in five major countries, including Canada and the U.K. The proposal was first pitched in November, but has scored a powerful new ally: Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) The legislative package is also being sponsored by Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna, Peter Welch, and Joe Neguse, among other co-sponsors in the House and Senate. For more on the proposal, read this.