来自两党的一对搭档 —— 参议员乔希・霍利（共和党，密苏里州）和彼得・韦尔奇（民主党，佛蒙特州）公布了一项立法，旨在通过阻止制药公司向美国消费者收取高于国际平均价格的费用来控制处方药成本。这项提案重新启用了特朗普时代的 “最惠国” 模式，该模式最初旨在让美国医疗保险（Medicare）的药品价格与其他国家支付的最低价格保持一致，但在制药行业提起诉讼后被法院驳回。

白宫目前正在重新审视这一概念，不过，在共和党就为国内政策举措提供资金进行更广泛的谈判之际，更新后的版本将只适用于医疗补助计划（Medicaid），而不适用于医疗保险（Medicare）。然而，能否节省开支仍不确定，因为医疗补助计划已经要求提供远低于私人市场价格的 “最优惠价格” 折扣。

霍利强调该法案与特朗普此前为缩小美国和全球药品价格差距所做的努力是一致的，并表示该法案将 “打破大型制药公司的优势”，让药品重新变得可负担。

该立法将对制药商每销售一个定价过高的药品单位实施经济处罚，韦尔奇强调，这是通过国会合作实现特朗普愿景的 “蓝图”。作为参议院权力动态中的关键人物，霍利的立场可能会影响该法案在党派分歧的情况下能否获得支持。

霍利表示：“美国患者理应享受到与国外消费者一样的公平价格。” 而韦尔奇则强调了两党为实现负担得起的医疗保健机会而做出的 “平衡” 的努力。

Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Cap U.S. Drug Prices Based on Global Averages

A bipartisan duo—Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.)—unveiled legislation to curb prescription drug costs by preventing pharmaceutical companies from charging U.S. consumers more than the international average price. The proposal revives a Trump-era “most favored nation” model, initially designed to align Medicare drug prices with the lowest rates paid by peer countries but struck down in court after industry lawsuits.

The White House is now revisiting the concept, though the updated version would apply solely to Medicaid, not Medicare, amid broader Republican negotiations to fund domestic policy initiatives. However, savings remain uncertain, as Medicaid already mandates “best price” discounts far below private market rates.

This unexpected move complicates ongoing GOP debates over Medicaid spending cuts, potentially straining talks on trimming hundreds of billions to finance legislative priorities. Hawley, a vocal critic of proposed House Medicaid reductions, emphasized the bill’s alignment with Trump’s earlier efforts to close the gap between U.S. and global drug prices, stating it would “dismantle Big Pharma’s advantage” and restore affordability.

The legislation would enforce financial penalties on drugmakers for each overpriced unit sold, with Welch highlighting it as a “blueprint” to realize Trump’s vision through congressional collaboration. As a pivotal figure in Senate dynamics, Hawley’s stance could influence whether the bill gains traction amid partisan divides.

“American patients deserve the same fair pricing as consumers abroad,” Hawley remarked, while Welch underscored the bipartisan push to “balance the scales” for affordable healthcare access.