Tracking every rollback, reversal, and overreach — and the path back to the America we know.
President Trump signed Executive Order 13948 on September 13, 2020, directing the Department of Health and Human Services to allow Medicare to pay no more for drugs than the lowest price paid in other developed countries. The order applied to a subset of Medicare Part B drugs. As of 2021, the rule was blocked by federal courts before implementation, preventing direct Medicare price changes for most drugs covered under the order.
On July 24, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13937, directing the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a Most Favored Nation (MFN) model for Medicare drug pricing. The order required Medicare to pay no more for drugs than the lowest price paid in other developed nations. The rule was implemented in November 2020 but was blocked by federal courts before taking effect, and was subsequently rescinded by the Biden administration in 2021.
On July 24, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13938 directing the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a program permitting the importation of FDA-approved drugs from Canada and other countries at lower prices. The order instructed HHS to create a Safe Importation Action Plan within 30 days. As of early 2021, HHS had not implemented a functional importation program, though the administration issued guidance on the policy direction.
On July 24, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Order 13947 directing federal agencies to take steps to lower drug prices and increase price transparency. The order instructed the Department of Health and Human Services to allow states to import prescription drugs from Canada, permit Medicare to negotiate drug prices directly, and require drug manufacturers to disclose prices in direct-to-consumer advertising. Implementation faced legal challenges and delays; some provisions did not take effect during the Trump administration.