President Trump on Monday announced new steps aimed at lowering healthcare costs, revealing that 26 pharmaceutical companies have agreed to offer all of their drugs to state Medicaid at favored nation drug pricing. The announcement, made alongside HHS Secretary RFK Jr., Commerce Secretary Lutnick, and Dr. Oz, builds on an earlier deal with 17 drugmakers.
According to CNBC, the Trump administration is also announcing new drug pricing deals with nearly a dozen drugmakers who will voluntarily lower the prices of their medications. The agreements are part of a broader push to address healthcare affordability, a key issue for voters ahead of the midterm elections.
Expanding on Previous Deal
Trump had previously announced a deal with 17 pharmaceutical companies, and Monday’s expansion brings that number to 26. The new agreements require participating drugmakers to offer their entire portfolio of drugs to state Medicaid programs at favored nation pricing, which is the lowest price available in comparable markets.
The president framed the move as a long-overdue correction to a broken system. “For decades, politicians from both parties promised to make health care more affordable, but they all FAILED. Every one of them,” Trump said during the announcement.
The event, held at the White House, included remarks from top administration officials who touted the agreements as a victory for American taxpayers and Medicaid beneficiaries. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz, who has been involved in healthcare policy discussions, were present, though specific remarks from them were not detailed in the initial report.
Reaction and Next Steps
The announcement is likely to draw scrutiny from both supporters and critics. Proponents of the deal argue that favored nation pricing could lead to significant savings for state Medicaid programs, which are often strained by high drug costs. However, some experts have previously warned that such pricing mechanisms could have unintended consequences, such as limiting patient access to certain medications.
The voluntary nature of the agreements is notable—drugmakers are not being forced to participate, but rather are choosing to do so, possibly to avoid more aggressive government intervention. The administration has not yet released the full list of participating companies, nor details on which drugs are covered.
This move is the latest in a series of healthcare-related actions by the Trump administration, which has made drug pricing a central theme in its policy agenda. With the midterms approaching, the administration is likely to use these announcements to highlight its efforts to reduce costs, a message that resonates with many voters.
As the details of the agreements become clearer, stakeholders in the healthcare industry—including insurers, providers, and patient advocacy groups—will be watching closely to assess the real-world impact on drug affordability and access.
The White House has not yet scheduled a follow-up briefing, but officials indicated that more announcements on healthcare affordability are expected in the coming weeks.
Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/watch-live-president-trump-makes-announcement-healthcare-affordability/