Blue Cross Supports Pegging Drug Prices to International Levels

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association supports basing prices for expensive drugs on lower international prices when there is no competition.

If there is no competition for medicines that have “extremely” high costs, international pricing may need to be used as a reference to make drugs affordable, Justine Handelman, senior vice president of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s (BCBSA’s) Office of Policy and Representation, said at a press briefing Oct. 3.

She referred to the Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019 (H.R. 3) championed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). The Trump administration has also proposed ...