On Friday July 9, President Biden signed an executive order focused on promoting competition in the U.S. economy. The comprehensive executive order contained many provisions relating to the healthcare industry, including directives to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support price transparency rules issued by the Trump Administration and instructions to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prioritize hospital consolidation in its enforcement efforts. Under the order, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FTC are encouraged to “vigorously” enforce antitrust laws, even on past mergers that previous administrations have not challenged. The order includes specific provisions that address competition among hospitals, health insurers, prescription drugmakers, and hearing aid manufacturers.
HHS is directed by the order to support existing hospital price transparency regulations issued by the Trump Administration, which require hospitals to disclose cash prices and rates negotiated with insurers, as well as finish implementing bipartisan federal legislation to address surprise hospital billing. This directive may be spurred by recent reports that hospital compliance with these regulations has been inconsistent. The order further directs the HHS to standardize plan options in the national health insurance marketplace so people can comparison shop more easily.
The FDA is called upon to work with states and tribal programs to safely import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada, pursuant to the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, in an attempt to lower prices for consumers. Provisions in the order similarly call on HHS to increase support for generic and biosimilar drugs and to create a plan within 45 days to address high drug prices and price gouging. The order asks the FTC to ban “pay for delay” and similar agreements by rule, under which brand-name drugmakers pay generic drugmakers to abstain from the market. Moreover, the executive order would also allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter and directs HHS to issue a rule on the matter within 120 days. Hospitals and other healthcare should understand the implications these directives may have as implementation of the executive order unfolds in the coming weeks and months.
For over 35 years, Wachler & Associates has represented healthcare providers and suppliers nationwide in a variety of health law matters, and our attorneys can assist providers and suppliers in understanding the impacts of the Biden administration’s latest executive order. If you or your healthcare entity has any questions pertaining to healthcare compliance, please contact an experienced healthcare attorney at 248-544-0888 or wapc@wachler.com.