Sen. Welch backs Trump’s drug‑price plan, pledges push
Get the Health newsletter
Daily health & science — research, biotech, public health, the studies worth knowing. Free.
- Sen. Peter Welch said he would “not only vote for it, I would work actively and aggressively to make it happen” regarding Trump’s most‑favored‑nation drug pricing plan.
- President Trump has negotiated most‑favored‑nation deals with at least 16 pharmaceutical companies, but the terms are not public and some Democrats allege they may benefit big pharma more than Americans.
- Sen. Josh Hawley is working with Sen. Welch on a bipartisan bill that would bar drugmakers from charging Americans more than the international average price.
- Rural health clinics are closing in anticipation of Medicaid cuts tied to Trump’s signature tax law.
- Welch’s daughter in France recently had a baby with no medical bill because of universal healthcare, which Welch cites as an example of affordable, sustainable systems.
- Democrats need to extend ACA tax credits that help people purchase health care, according to Welch.
- Public opinion polls show more voters trust Democrats over Republicans to address high drug costs, though over a quarter of Americans distrust both parties.
Why it matters: Welch’s bipartisan push could translate Trump’s informal most‑favored‑nation drug deals into formal law, lowering U.S. prescription prices toward international averages and easing patients’ financial strain. It also spotlights rural clinic closures and Medicaid cuts, urging both parties to protect health‑care access and extend ACA tax credits.
