POLITICS

CBS Ignores Trump’s Plan to Lower Drug Costs, NBC Whines Not Good Enough

The Trump administration made positive headlines on Wednesday after Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced the United States was looking at allowing FDA-approved drugs to be imported from foreign counties, such as Canada, where they were cheaper.

Despite previously decrying the skyrocketing price of prescription drug costs, that evening, the CBS Evening News chose to ignore that major proposal to aid struggling American families and instead hyped a new statue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

ABC World News Tonight anchor David Muir shared the good news in a news brief lasting 20 seconds:

After last night’s first night of the debate, Democrats talking so much about health care and drug costs. Well today, the Trump administration revealing that they’re exploring a new way to reduce prescription drug costs. The plan would allow some FDA-approved drugs to be imported from foreign countries at lower costs, especially from Canada, though it could be months or longer to try to rewrite the rules.

While NBC Nightly News initially touted the Trump administration’s proposal, they quickly turned to criticize it for the drugs that currently weren’t covered.

“As the Trump administration laid out the foundation to allow the U.S. to legally import drugs from foreign countries like Canada, where medications are often much cheaper,” reported NBC’s Dr. John Torrez. “While welcomed news for many, it’s not the answer for millions of others because today’s proposal does not include certain drugs like insulin.

After sharing some stories from people who had to travel to Canada to buy insulin, or ration their insulin and put their lives at risk, NBC cut back to a live shot with Holt asking Torrez: “And Dr. John Torrez joining us now. A lot of people paying close attention to that report now. So, how does this rollout? When does it happen?”

Torrez then admitted that “while we know some of the drugs that are included or excluded from this proposal, we’re not sure if some of the ones that will be included or how soon they’ll start coming into the country.”

Adding: “But the hope is this will improve prescription drug access and affordability for so many families here across the U.S.”

The transcripts are below, click “expand” to read:

ABC’s World News Tonight
July 31, 2019
6:44:44 p.m. Eastern

DAVID MUIR: After last night’s first night of the debate, Democrats talking so much about health care and drug costs. Well today, the Trump administration revealing that they’re exploring a new way to reduce prescription drug costs. The plan would allow some FDA-approved drugs to be imported from foreign countries at lower costs, especially from Canada, though it could be months or longer to try to rewrite the rules.

NBC Nightly News
July 31, 2019
7:09:56 p.m. Eastern

LESTER HOLT: One of the big issues in these debates, affordable health care. And tonight the Trump administration is proposing a plan for Americans to import description drugs from foreign countries where they often cost much less. Dr. John Torrez reports on your money, your life.

[Cuts to video]

DR. JOHN TORREZ: A disturbing trend in the U.S., the rising cost of medication.

HOLT: Drug companies are greeting the new year with price hikes.

TORREZ: With few competitors, the price has skyrocketed, a heated topic at last night’s debate.

(…)

TORREZ: And making headlines today.

ALEX AZAR (Secretary of Health and Human Services): We’re open for business.

TORREZ: As the Trump administration laid out the foundation to allow the U.S. to legally import drugs from foreign countries like Canada, where medications are often much cheaper.

AZAR: We’ll let you bring them in in a way that’s safe for the American consumer and also reduce their costs.

TORREZ: While welcomed news for many, it’s not the answer for millions of others because today’s proposal does not include certain drugs like insulin.

(…)

TORREZ: Insulin is one of the most common drugs Americans like Kathy go to Canada to purchase. A vile there costs roughly ten times less than it does in the U.S.

(…)

7:11:56 p.m. Eastern [22 seconds]

[Cuts back to live]

HOLT: And Dr. John Torrez joining us now. A lot of people paying close attention to that report now. So, how does this rollout? When does it happen?

TORREZ: There are a lot of questions, Lester, about this proposal. And while we know some of the drugs that are included or excluded from this proposal, we’re not sure if some of the ones that will be included or how soon they’ll start coming into the country. But the hope is this will improve prescription drug access and affordability for so many families here across the U.S.

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