President Trump Announces All 50 States to Participate in Medicaid Drug Price Benchmarking Program
President Donald Trump announced that all 50 U.S. states will participate in a Medicaid program that aims to reduce drug prices by benchmarking them to rates paid in certain other countries.
Binghamton, NY, September 18, 2026 —
President Donald Trump has announced that all 50 United States will join a Medicaid program designed to lower prescription drug costs. The initiative aims to benchmark drug prices against rates currently paid in a selection of other countries.
The program, focused on the Medicaid sector, intends to leverage international pricing standards to negotiate more favorable costs for pharmaceuticals within the United States. Details regarding the specific name of the program or the precise list of countries whose drug pricing will be used as a benchmark were not immediately available.
The announcement indicates a broad federal push to address pharmaceutical expenditures. Participation by all 50 states signifies a comprehensive approach to implementing potential cost-saving measures for the government-funded healthcare program for low-income Americans.
The policy’s objective is to create a system where the prices paid for certain drugs through Medicaid reflect the lower prices observed in other developed nations. This approach aims to reduce the financial burden on the healthcare system and, potentially, on consumers.
Further information on the operational mechanisms and the specific drugs or drug categories targeted by this benchmarking strategy is expected to be released. The announcement marks a significant step in the administration’s efforts to reform drug pricing within the United States.
Story summarized from the original created by FATIMA HUSSEIN, Associated Press on www.binghamtonhomepage.com, see more information here.
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