WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 4, a bill requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices under the Medicare drug plan. H.R. 4 drew bipartisan support, passing the House by a final vote of 255 to 170.
"This bill gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services the necessary tools to reach the common goal of lowering prescription drug prices for our seniors," said Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel. "The current prohibition on price negotiation defies common sense and reason, but this bill marks the beginning of a process to improve that law."
"The protests coming from the pharmaceutical industry over this bill should indicate there is something wrong with the current system if they don’t trust the federal government to negotiate fairly."
