Trump administration vows to keep fighting for drug pricing in TV ads

HHS yesterday appealed a recent court ruling that blocked the Trump administration from requiring drug prices in TV ads for medicines that cost more than $35 for a month’s supply. Amgen, Eli Lilly, Merck, and the Association of National Advertisers sued to keep the requirement from going into effect, and a judge in July ruled in favor of them, saying that Congress hadn’t granted HHS the authority to require such disclosures. The companies argued that displaying list prices in ads isn’t a true reflection of what most consumers actually pay, while the administration claims that drug makers being forced to reveal prices will also shame them into lowering costs. The appeal was expected, my D.C. colleague Nicholas Florko says, adding, "This is a big priority for the president, and HHS can’t show they’re giving up, even it means getting slapped down in court again."