HHS Sec Bercerra quoted as saying "we will do everything we can to make sure that the cost of a COVID vaccine remains affordable ... We'll do everything we can to make sure that we keep the price as low as possible."
Not sure what tools the USG has other than ask the manufacturers to play nice, make Covid vax a covered preventive service to minimize out of pocket costs for patients... any other options?
On this, here's what he's said before:
“Now I’m going to be able to start going to these drug companies to say, ‘Wait a minute, that’s not the price we’re paying. You want to do business with 65 million Americans on Medicare, you’ve got to give a better price.’ And so starting next year, we’re going to identify the first 10 drugs in America under the Medicare program that we will negotiate with the drug manufacturers on,” said Becerra, adding that by 2025 he expects the lower prices to start going into effect.
It's part of the Inflation Reduction Act, but what powers he really has have yet to be shown in real life.
Anyway, I ignore the guy because:
Also Becerra - "The President is right." (COVID's over)
Also Becerra - Get the vaccine and go hug and kiss your family with zero other precautions.
Also Becerra - COVID is heading where the flu is. Get vaccinated once a year and don't worry.
He doesn't seem to be a very reliable source of good info.
@BE The IRA negotiations don't kick in for a couple of years, I think, and it's going to be a fight about which drugs get targeted. My guess is the feds will first focus on cancer or neuro therapies.
Right, they're targeting 2025 drug prices and as far as I can tell that's what he's referencing here, too because "we will do everything we can" seems to reference nothing. I'd be glad to find out that I'm wrong, but I'm expecting over $100 vaccine shots and Paxlovid courses well into 4-figures.
*Sorry, deleted and redrafted for a typo
@BE Sounds about right!