Drug Price Negotiation Dropped in Proposed White House Plan (1)

The White House is asking Democrats to move forward with a sweeping domestic spending package that drops two of its major, and contentious, health policy goals: empowering the government to lower drug prices and adding dental benefits to Medicare.

Key Democrats responded by saying the issue remains live, acknowledging the party has yet to reach consensus.

“We’re still trying to get drug pricing included in the bill,” Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, told reporters.

Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, also said drug pricing remains “an active issue.”

The framework omits ...