Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Move to Require Drug Prices in TV Ads

On Monday, Fox Business reports, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta blocked the Trump administration from implementing a new rule that would force pharmaceutical companies to include the wholesale prices of their drugs in TV advertising. In doing so, the judge sided with drugmakers Amgen Inc., Eli Lilly and Co., and Merck & Co Inc. by halting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS's) rule from going into effect today as planned. "HHS Secretary Alex Azar announced the rule on May 8," Fox recalls, "saying that forcing drugmakers to disclose their prices in direct-to-consumer TV advertising could help drive down skyrocketing prescription drug costs if the companies were embarrassed by them or afraid they would scare away customers."