Patients Rising applauds President Donald Trump for signing an executive order to lower prescription drug costs and ensure patients are at the center of American healthcare.
For years, we have raised concerns about the growing disconnect between the price of prescription medicines and the actual cost to patients. This Executive Order signals a return to policies that prioritize affordability, access, and accountability-values that align directly with the pillars of our Patient Empowerment Plan, which seeks to realign incentives to support the long-term health and well-being of Americans through health insurance reform, strengthen safety nets, and democratizing healthcare decision making.
We’ve been critical of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program established under the Inflation Reduction Act, not because we oppose lower prices but because of how the program has been implemented. The process has been anything but patient-centered, from opaque negotiations to arbitrary decisions around which drugs are selected. Worse, we fear that health plans may respond by tightening utilization management, delaying or denying access to critical medications for seniors who need them most.
One of the most important aspects of this Executive Order is its push to hold pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and other middlemen accountable. Every year, billions in hidden fees and backdoor rebates flow through the system-yet patients at the pharmacy counter rarely see a dime. Shining a light on these opaque financial arrangements is critical. You can’t fix what you can’t see, and the current lack of transparency has protected entrenched interests for far too long.
Patients Rising believes that the healthcare system should work for the Americans it’s intended to serve. We look forward to working with the administration to build a system that delivers real value, meaningful access, and long-term health and well-being for Americans.”