Brown Leads Letter to Trump Administration Seeking Answers on White House Executive Order to Raise Drug Prices

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) led a letter joined by 51 colleagues seeking information from the Trump Administration on how the President’s recent executive order rescinding Biden Administration policies to lower drug prices will impact existing programs.  

“I am deeply concerned that President Trump’s reckless Executive Orders will raise drug prices for working people in Northeast Ohio. On day one, President Trump rescinded an order aimed at lowering drug costs for people on Medicare and Medicaid,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. “This move has jeopardized three new pilot programs to lower drug costs—including a program to develop a $2 generic drug list. The American people deserve answers: Have these programs been cancelled? And if so, what is Trump’s plan to lower, not raise drug prices?” 

On January 20, 2025 President Trump rescinded President Biden’s Executive Order 14087, Lowering Prescription Drug Prices for Americans. Biden’s order called for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to build on the Inflation Reduction Act and implement new programs to lower costs for people on Medicare and Medicaid. Following the order HHS announced three new programs: a program for $2 copays for generic drugs for people on Medicare, a new Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model in coordination with state Medicaid agencies, and an Accelerating Clinical Evidence Model in consultation with the FDA.  

HHS Documents on Executive Order 14087 here: one-pager, full report. 

The letter was cosigned by the following members of the House: 

Adams, Ansari, Beatty, Beyer, Bonamici, Brown, Budzinski, Carbajal, Carter, Casten, Cherfilus-McCormick, Clarke, Davis, Deluzio, Evans, Figures, Garamendi, Goldman, Goodlander, Gottheimer, Grijalva, Jackson, Jayapal, Johnson, Kaptur, Kelly, Landsman, Larsen, Larson, Lee, Magaziner, McCollum, McDonald Rivet, McIver, Mfume, Moulton, Panetta, Pappas, Pocan, Schakowsky, Stanton, Strickland, Suozzi, Sykes, Thanedar, Thompson, Titus, Tlaib, Underwood, Velázquez, Watson Coleman. 

The text of the letter is as follows: 

Dear Acting Secretary Fink and Acting Administrator Wu,

We write to you today to express our concern regarding the recent action taken on January 20, 2025, by President Donald Trump to rescind Executive Order 14087, Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans. 

Executive Order 14087, issued by former President Joe Biden, created a pathway for the development and evaluation of new healthcare payment and delivery models through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. These innovative models were designed to lower drug costs, promote innovation, and increase access to diverse therapies and treatment options. 

The former Administration worked collaboratively across the agency to identify three model concepts that would accomplish these objectives: 

• Medicare $2 Drug List Model
• Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model
• Accelerating Clinical Evidence Model

These concept models were designed to enhance the prescription drug provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Over 40 external stakeholders evaluated these model options under the direction of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Center for Medicaid and Medicare Innovation, taking into account their ability to meet the strategic priorities of the Administration and the needs of the American people. Each model holds significant potential to address affordability, equity, and access to critical treatments. Understand that 3 in 10 adults report not taking prescribed medicine at some point in the past year due to the rising costs.^[1] In addition, brand prescription drugs are consistently rising faster than the rate of inflation making it difficult for Americans to choose between their health and other household expenses.^[2] The revocation of this Executive Order will jeopardize these initiatives and obstruct the advancement of healthcare equity. 

Therefore, we the undersigned seek clarification on the impact of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order, rescinding Executive Order 14087, and ask the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide answers to the following: 

1. How will the rescission of Executive Order 14087 impact the development and implementation status of current models proposed under Executive Order 14087? 
2. How will the Department of Health and Human Services work with the Centers for Medicare and Medical Services (CMS) to address gaps created by the rescission?
3. What initiatives will be implemented to address gaps in access to innovative therapies that impact vulnerable communities? 

We remain deeply invested in the equitable delivery of healthcare services. The pursuit of this effort requires innovation, ingenuity, and intentional commitment. We must protect and advocate for the interests of the American people by putting them first and ensuring that they have access to quality health care. 

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,