Experts debated the claims made by drug companies and industry allies suing the federal government over its recently launched drug price negotiation program during an online panel discussion opens in a new tab or window hosted by KFF on Tuesday.

At issue is whether the federal government is “coercing” companies into making their drugs available at lower-than-market prices, explained Dan Troy, JD, managing director at the Berkeley Research Group, who currently serves on the litigation counsel advisory board for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, one of the groups suing.

“The bottom line is this is not a price negotiation. These are price controls by other names,” argued Troy, who is not involved in the lawsuit.

Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its list of the 10 drugs opens in a new tab or window now eligible for price negotiation under the agency’s new Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program opens in a new tab or window, which came about through a provision of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The negotiation process leading up to the determination of a “maximum […]