Current Issues
Medical Care/Prescription Drugs
Merck Lawsuit Against Drug Negotiation
Merck filed a lawsuit (June 6) against the provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 requiring the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate ...
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Pandemics, Vaccinations, & Research
Vaccination Requirements End
The Biden Administration lifted its remaining key COVID-19 vaccination requirements, announcing (May 1) that the mandates will end on the same day of the official end ...
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Research & Analysis
Paying Off the Competition: Market Power and Innovation Incentives
National Bureau of Economic Research
This research paper provides analysis which suggests that by paying off competition, at least some pharmaceutical companies are able to protect monopoly power and have reduced incentives to innovate; that, restricting pay-to-play agreements through antitrust law may increase innovation incentives.
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U.S. Prices for Selected Brand Drugs Were Higher on Average than Australia, Canada, and France
General Accountability Office (GAO)
This GAO report (April 2021) compares U.S. drug prices on 20 drugs against the same drugs in three selected countries - Australia, Canada, and France. Among other things, the report finds that U.S. prices were mostly 2 to 4 times higher than prices paid in the comparison countries, though prices for some drugs were lower.
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International Prescription Drug Pricing Comparisons
Rand Corporation
This research (2021) compared compares U.S. drug prices to 32 comparison countries, and among the findings found that prices for name brand drugs were 256% higher in the U.S. than in comparison countries, and still 190% higher after adjusting prices down for various discounts and rebates. On the other hand, generic drug costs were lower -- 84% of comparison country prices.
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Prescription Drug Importation
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
This CRS report (February 2021) summarizes current drug importation rules, including what is permitted and what is not permitted, as well as the requirements for obtaining approval for an importation program.
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The Controlled Substances Act: A Legal Overview for the 117th Congress
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
This CRS report (February 2021) provides detail on the legal basis for the management of drugs via the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The CSA provides a legal framework to regulate certain drugs that are deemed to pose a risk of abuse and dependence.
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Key Federal Programs
Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health: ARPA-H [HHS]
This Year (FY 22)
Budget Proposal (FY 23)
Enacted (FY 23)
% Change
$1,000,000,000
$5,000,000,000
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---
Supplementals (FY 21-22)
$0
Food and Drug Administration [HHS - FDA]
This Year (FY 22)
Budget Proposal (FY 23)
Enacted (FY 23)
% Change
$6,095,882,000
$6,761,019,000
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---
Supplementals (FY 21-22)
$0
Primary Health Care [HHS]
This Year (FY 22)
Budget Proposal (FY 23)
Enacted (FY 23)
% Change
$1,748,772,000
$1,839,000,000
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---
Supplementals (FY 21-22)
$55,400,000,000
National Institutes of Health [HHS]
This Year (FY 22)
Budget Proposal (FY 23)
Enacted (FY 23)
% Change
$44,728,000,000
$49,040,000,000
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---
Supplementals (FY 21-22)
$0
