{"id":2054707,"date":"2023-10-04T02:27:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T06:27:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-yields-to-legal-pressure-resumes-drug-price-transparency-enforcement\/"},"modified":"2023-10-04T02:30:52","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T06:30:52","slug":"biden-administration-yields-to-legal-pressure-resumes-drug-price-transparency-enforcement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-yields-to-legal-pressure-resumes-drug-price-transparency-enforcement\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden yields, resumes drug price transparency enforcement."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbiden-administration-yields-to-legal-pressure-resumes-drug-price-transparency-enforcement%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2054707&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>      The Biden administration has made a dramatic reversal in \u200dits\u200c stance \u2064on the enforcement of \u2064Transparency in Coverage (TiC)\u2064 rules. After initially backing away from a legal battle\u2063 over the Trump\u200d administration regulations, they have now been successfully sued by \u200dthe Foundation \u200cfor Government Accountability (FGA) to protect patients&#8217; right to health care transparency.\n    <\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p>    \u2063    The re-implemented rules are a game-changer, as they mandate the publication of\u2062 prescription drug\u200b prices by group health plans and insurers. This provides\u2063 crucial pricing information to consumers,\u2062 empowering them to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-climate-regulations-could-destabilize-grid-electricity-operators-tell-epa\/\" title=\"Electricity operators warn EPA: New climate rules may disrupt grid.\">make informed \u2062decisions<\/a> about their healthcare.\n  <\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<li class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/house-committee-demands-transparency-on-how-consumer-drug-prices-are-set-5286978?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>House Committee Demands Transparency on How Consumer\u200c Drug Prices Are Set<\/h3>\n<p>            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">5\/24\/2023<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/house-committee-demands-transparency-on-how-consumer-drug-prices-are-set-5286978?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n        <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<li class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/merck-sues-biden-administration-over-sham-drug-price-negotiation-program-5316729?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Merck Sues Biden Administration Over &#8216;Sham&#8217; \u2062Drug Price\u2063 Negotiation\u200b Program<\/h3>\n<p>            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">6\/6\/2023<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/merck-sues-biden-administration-over-sham-drug-price-negotiation-program-5316729?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n        <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>      \u2063\u2063 \u2062  Following FGA&#8217;s lawsuit, \u200bthe U.S. Departments\u2064 of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and\u200c Treasury have publicly rescinded\u2063 their\u200d previous non-enforcement order. This order was deemed contrary to federal law, and the FAQ\u200b document issued by these departments confirms the reversal.<br \/>\n \u200b\n    <\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p>    The \u200cTransparency in Coverage (TiC) rule\u200d is a crucial step towards empowering\u200c patients with the information they need to\u2064 make informed health decisions. By \u200dpromoting price transparency, \u2062it aims\u200d to enhance healthcare\u2063 quality \u2064and \u200dfoster \u2063free-market solutions.\n  <\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    \u2063\u200b   FGA&#8217;s president and\u200b CEO, Tarren Bragdon, \u200cexpressed his\u2064 delight in a press release, emphasizing the\u200d victory&#8217;s significance \u200cfor patients and their families. \u200cHe \u2064stated,\u200b &#8220;When the \u2063Biden administration decided to take the side of \u200bhealth insurers \u2062and drug manufacturers,\u2064 FGA decided to take the side of patients and\u2064 their\u2064 families. We stood up\u2062 to the federal\u200b behemoth in court, and we won. Because of this victory, millions \u2062of Americans will have\u2064 transparent access to the information they need to make informed health care decisions.&#8221;\n  <\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>      \u200c  \u2063   \u200c &#8220;Washington gridlock can\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-yields-to-legal-pressure-resumes-drug-price-transparency-enforcement\/\" title=\"Biden yields, resumes drug price transparency enforcement.\">make major policy advancements difficult<\/a> to come by. But \u200dFGA is \u200dcommitted to finding ways to make a positive impact \u200bacross\u200d the country. That\u2019s why we fight, and\u2063 that\u2019s why winning matters \u2062so much,&#8221; \u200dadded\u2064 Mr. Bragdon.<br \/>\n    \u200c\n    <\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<h2><strong>Background on Legal Battle<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>      \u2062  &#8220;The Biden administration broke the law when they prohibited agencies \u200dfrom \u200cenforcing the drug price transparency rule, and they\u2063 knew it. That\u2019s why they caved in\u2064 response\u200c to FGA\u2019s lawsuit by\u2062 formally reversing their non-enforcement policy on drug price transparency before a federal judge compelled \u2062them to do\u200c so,&#8221; said \u2064Stewart Whitson, \u200dlegal\u200c director at FGA.\n    <\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p>    \u2062  \u200c The transparency rule mandates that group health plans and health insurers publish\u2063 the\u200b prices of prescription drugs, ensuring consumers have \u200dcomplete \u200cpricing\u2064 information. This move holds great\u200c potential \u200dfor reducing the \u200bcost of medical\u2064 care and\u200c ensuring fair pricing.\n  <\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>      \u200c The FGA claimed in its March 23 press release announcing the lawsuit that the\u200d three departments had violated the rule by failing to enforce it.\n    <\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>      \u2062  \u200b  \u200b In 2019, the Trump administration announced a regulation to increase Transparency in Coverage for\u200b healthcare, which was finalized in 2020. The section regarding\u2062 the transparency of medicine prices was scheduled to go \u200cinto effect on Jan. 1, 2022.\n    <\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>      \u200bHowever, the Biden\u200d administration issued a\u2062 FAQ guidance document to\u2063 halt\u200c implementation of \u2063the rule. The FGA&#8217;s\u200d lawsuit \u2062asserts \u200cthat this move skirted\u200d the requisite notice-and-comment procedures that must take place before making modifications to an existing regulation.<br \/>\n \u2063   \u2064\n    <\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p>    \u200b   The pricing transparency regulation was \u200dexpected to assist in reducing the \u2063cost of medical care. \u2062Unfortunately, the administration&#8217;s decision reportedly resulted\u2064 in a lack of mitigation of\u200d a significant increase in\u200d the cost of\u2064 more than 1,200 prescription medications during\u2063 2021 and\u2062 2022.\n  <\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>      \u2062  \u2063  According to an HHS \u200cstudy released in September 2022, the average price increase for prescription medications was 31.6 percent.\u200d Some drugs in 2022 increased by more than $20,000, or 500 \u200cpercent.\n    <\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<h2>Bipartisan Support for Transparency<\/h2>\n<p>    The \u2064House Committee on \u2062Oversight and \u2064Accountability\u2063 demonstrated unusual \u200dbipartisanship during a May 23 hearing, \u200bwhere they jointly \u2063voiced \u2064concerns\u2064 about alleged behind-the-scenes deal-making that resulted in higher consumer\u200b drug prices. \u200cChairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and \u2064the committee \u2064convened their first hearing \u2063on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), advocating for increased accountability and transparency in their role as \u200bmiddlemen\u2063 between drug \u2064manufacturers and pharmacies.\n  <\/p>\n<p>    \u2062  Almost two-and-a-half hours into\u200c the hearing, \u200cfirst-term Rep. \u200dJasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said: &#8220;I applaud all my colleagues,\u200c which, you know, tend\u2064 to be a \u2064little partisan. And \u2062so I didn&#8217;t know that\u200d we could \u2064actually agree\u2063 on much of anything. And\u2062 so, you \u2062know, today \u2063has revealed that miracles are \u2062still happening in the world.&#8221;\n  <\/p>\n<p>    \u2062The Department of Health \u200dand Human Services did\u2062 not\u200b immediately respond to The Epoch Times&#8217;s \u200brequest for \u200bcomment.<br \/>\n  \u200d\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2>What was bidens new executive order?<\/h2>\n<p><span>Today,\u200c President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order on Addressing United States Investments In Certain National Security Technologies And Products In Countries Of Concernthat authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to \u2062regulate certain U.S. investments \u200binto countries of concern in \u2064entities engaged in activities &#8230; Of Health and Human Services (HHS), \u200dLabor, and \u2064Treasury have agreed to enforce the\u2062 TiC rules, which were\u2064 finalized in October 2020 but were put on hold by the Biden administration in January 2021. These rules require group health plans and health insurance\u2063 issuers to disclose the prices of prescription drugs to beneficiaries, including the negotiated rates and historical prices.<\/p>\n<p>The decision to enforce \u200dthese rules is a significant win for healthcare transparency and consumer advocacy. It empowers patients \u2063by equipping them with vital information about the costs of their medications,\u200c allowing them to compare prices and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregon-governor-encourages-people-to-call-police-on-neighbors-violating-covid-orders\/\" title=\"Oregon Governor Encourages People To Call Police On Neighbors Violating COVID Orders\">make informed decisions<\/a>\u200c when it comes to their healthcare. This move also brings\u2063 much-needed \u2064accountability to the \u2063healthcare industry, as it incentivizes insurers and healthcare providers \u200dto be more transparent with their pricing practices.<\/p>\n<p>The publication of prescription drug prices is particularly crucial\u200c considering the rising\u2063 costs of medications in the\u2063 United States. Many patients struggle to\u2063 afford the medications they need, and the lack of\u2063 pricing transparency only exacerbates this issue. With the TiC\u200c rules in place, patients can now\u200b have a better understanding of the costs associated with their prescriptions, enabling them to explore alternative options if necessary and potentially save money.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, this enforcement sends a clear message that the Biden administration is committed \u200bto promoting healthcare transparency and protecting patients&#8217; rights. It signifies a departure\u200c from the previous administration&#8217;s approach and highlights a renewed focus on addressing healthcare affordability and accessibility.<\/p>\n<p>However, it is important to acknowledge that the implementation of these rules may face challenges. Insurers and health \u2064plans may \u200dencounter \u200ddifficulties \u2064in complying with the disclosure requirements, especially if they do not have existing systems\u200d in place to gather and publish this\u200d information.\u200b Additionally, there\u2064 may be concerns about the\u2063 potential\u2062 impact \u200con drug pricing and the overall healthcare market. It \u200dwill be crucial for the relevant departments to provide guidance and\u200d support to ensure a \u2064smooth transition and effective implementation.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, \u200cthe Biden administration&#8217;s reversal on the enforcement of TiC rules is a \u200bpositive step towards promoting healthcare transparency and empowering patients. By requiring the publication of prescription drug \u2064prices, this move provides consumers with crucial information to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-opens-up-about-mistakes-made-during-first-term\/\" title=\"Trump admits to errors made in first term.\">make \u200dinformed decisions<\/a> about their healthcare. It also signals a commitment to addressing healthcare affordability and accessibility. While challenges may arise during implementation, the potential benefits for patients and the healthcare industry as a whole make these rules an important development in the quest for a more transparent and patient-centric healthcare system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Biden administration has changed its position on enforcing Transparency in Coverage (TiC) rules, reversing its previous decision to avoid a legal dispute with the Trump administration. The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) won a lawsuit against the Biden administration, ensuring patients&#8217; access to healthcare transparency. As a result, prescription drug prices must now be published.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1843,"featured_media":2054708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2054707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2054707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1843"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2054707"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2054707\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2054708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2054707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2054707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2054707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}