Senate Health Committee to Hold Hearing on Trump Drug Pricing Plan

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar will testify about President Trump's proposal to lower prescription drug costs at a June 12 hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, reports The Hill . This will be the first time that lawmakers will publicly look at the plan since its unveiling in early May. Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) did not say whether the hearing will lead to legislation. Trump has claimed his administration can oversee many of the proposals on its own, but how Medicare covers the cost for drugs could require congressional oversight. Democrats have criticized Trump's plans for falling short, noting his drug pricing measure does not urge Medicare to negotiate drug prices directly. Meanwhile, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) announced last week that he also plans to hold hearings on the proposal. Few observers expect Congress to take major action on such an issue in an election year, but the hearings signal that there could at least be some talk about the issue.