health
Trump promised cheaper drugs. Some prices dropped. Many others shot up.
Updated on: May 7, 2026 / 6:08 AM EDT / KFF Health News
TL;DR
- Americans pay significantly more for prescription drugs compared to people in other countries.
- President Trump initiated various programs aimed at lowering drug prices, including direct negotiations and the TrumpRx discount site.
- The effectiveness of these initiatives is debated, with concerns about transparency and limited impact on overall drug costs.
- While some drugs saw discounts, many brand-name drugs experienced price increases.
- A key success was the continuation of Medicare drug price negotiation, leading to substantial savings and an out-of-pocket spending cap for beneficiaries.
- Patent manipulation by drug manufacturers often delays the market entry of cheaper generic and biosimilar drugs.
- The benefits of most initiatives are limited to specific groups, such as Medicare enrollees or cash-paying patients.
- Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs initiative offers a direct-to-consumer model for lower-priced generics.
- Drug industry lobbyists have worked to limit the impact of price regulations, with some success.