Health Care
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Health Care
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Trump administration nearing pharma tariffs plan |
The Trump administration on Monday took a step toward enacting its aims to tariff pharmaceutical imports, disclosing plans to carry out an investigation into the effects on national security of importing certain pharmaceuticals. |
The U.S. Department of Commerce in a Federal Register notice said the probe, known as a Section 232 investigation, began April 1, the day before President Trump announced widespread tariffs on all imported goods but specifically exempted pharmaceuticals.
According to the notice, the investigation “includes both finished generic and non-generic drug products, medical countermeasures, critical inputs such as active pharmaceutical ingredients and key starting materials, and derivative products of those items.”
This investigation is a likely prelude to Trump’s tariffs to come.
Section 232 investigations allow the president to restrict imports deemed a threat to national security. Trump last week said he will impose “a major tariff” on prescription drug imports in the coming weeks.
A typical investigation takes 270 days before a report is given to the president, but public comments on the notice are due just three weeks from the official April 16 publication date, an indication the investigation will move much quicker.
Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on pharmaceutical drugs has put the industry on edge, with experts warning the plan could disrupt global supply chains.
“Our concern is actually less about price increases because [of] the tariffs and more about generic manufacturers dropping out of the market,” which would exacerbate existing shortages, Tom Kraus, vice president of government relations for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, told The Hill.
“While that impacts the profitability of a branded drug, for a generic drug, if it pushes them over the line to no longer being profitable, they may just drop out of the market, and then we have a shortage.” |
Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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The Trump administration disclosed Monday that it had opened an investigation into the effects on national security of importing certain pharmaceuticals, a move widely seen as the prelude to initiating tariffs on prescription drugs. The Department of Commerce in a Federal Register notice said the probe, known as a Section 232 investigation, began April 1, the day before President Trump announced widespread tariffs on all imported … |
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A new class of antibiotic has been found to be safe and effective in treating gonorrhea in late-stage trials, according to a new study published Monday in The Lancet. The drug, called gepotidacin, works by preventing bacteria from replicating in the body and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in March to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women and in girls 12 years and older. If approved … |
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Seven U.S. service members exhibited “COVID-19-like symptoms” during or after their return from the 2019 World Military Games in Wuhan, China, according to a Pentagon report recently made public. The report indicates the service members had symptoms between Oct. 18, 2019, and Jan. 21, 2020. The symptoms all resolved within six days, according to the report, which is dated December 2022. The games opened on Oct. 18, 2019, and … |
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Branch out with a different read: |
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Spotlight shifts to Medicaid, a make-or-break issue for Trump |
The adoption of the Republicans’ budget bill has thrown a spotlight onto the hot-button issue that could make or break President Trump’s domestic agenda: Medicaid. The massive government health care program is at the heart of the GOP’s plan to slash federal spending in order to trim deficits and make budget space for Trump’s new tax cuts. But the topic is dividing Republicans both within and between the chambers of Congress, … |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- Families of transgender youth no longer view Colorado as a haven for gender-affirming care (KFF Health News)
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State health department confirms hundreds of layoffs after ‘COVID-19’ cuts (VPM)
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State Senate wants to ban cooperation with federal health care investigations (WBUR)
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Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets: |
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Why CDC cuts are being called ‘the greatest gift to tobacco industry in the last half-century’ (Stat)
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Inside an anti-vaccine autism summit in the age of RFK Jr. (NBC)
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‘We are flying blind’: RFK Jr.’s cuts halt data collection on abortion, cancer, HIV and more (Politico)
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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The Trump administration ratcheted up its confrontation with a U.S. district judge on Monday, as President Trump met El Salvador President Nayib Bukele … Read more |
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Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said Monday that he has no plans to return a Maryland man wrongfully deported to a prison in his country, telling … Read more |
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Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
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You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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