WASHINGTON — Republicans and Democrats fought it out over Medicare drug price negotiation Wednesday at a House hearing, with the former accusing the latter of setting up “mafia-style” theft of property.
Typically, intense hearings like the one before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee take place when lawmakers are debating legislation, not well after a law passes.
Despite the popularity of Medicare drug price negotiation with voters in both parties, Republicans have attacked the law, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, since Democrats passed it last year. Republicans lawmakers and drugmakers say the drug pricing reforms included in the legislation, which empower Medicare to directly negotiate the prices of some medicines, are tantamount to government price setting and will lead to fewer new drugs. The industry is challenging the program as unconstitutional in multiple courts.