What We're Reading: Sanders' Drug Import Bill; Ryan on Medicare; and Trump Knocks the FDA

Bernie Sanders Introduces Drug Importation Bill

Led by Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, Democrats introduced a new bill that would allow drugs from Canada to be imported to the United States. The Washington Post reported that the new bill would put increased pressure on pharmaceutical companies to bring down the price of drugs. During his campaign, President Donald Trump had expressed support for such an idea. Opponents of the law argue that it could result in patient harm if unsafe drugs make it into the United States.

Paul Ryan Has His Eye on Medicare Reform

While Trump promised not to make any cuts to Medicare, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, is singing a different tune. Ryan believes that the issue of Medicare is an open question and that the president only wants to keep benefits unchanged for people in or near retirement, according to CNN. Ryan believes that Medicare needs to be reformed in order to keep the program solvent.

Trump Derides FDA’s Process

During his joint address to Congress, the president called the FDA’s current drug approval process “slow and burdensome.” (To see more of his comments from the address, read our article.) STAT reported that Trump called on the FDA to speed up the approval of drugs for life-threatening diseases, and in the past he has called for eliminating regulations. As of yet, Trump has not nominated a commissioner to head the FDA.