Trump Administration to Launch Medicaid Drug Pricing Model Across All 50 States
President Donald Trump is set to announce that all 50 U.S. states will join a Medicaid drug pricing model aimed at lowering the net price of selected drugs by aligning them with prices paid in certain other countries.
Richmond Petersburg, VA, September 18, 2026 —
The Trump Administration is reportedly preparing to announce a new initiative that will involve all 50 U.S. states adopting a Medicaid drug pricing model. The stated objective of this model is to reduce the net price of selected prescription drugs.
According to the plan, the pricing strategy will align the cost of these selected drugs with the prices paid in several other countries. The specific countries chosen for this benchmark were not detailed in the initial information. Furthermore, the exact list of drugs that will be subject to this new pricing model has not been specified.
The announcement is anticipated from President Donald Trump. While details regarding the implementation timeline and the exact mechanisms for achieving these price alignments remain forthcoming, the initiative signals a significant effort by the administration to address drug costs within the Medicaid program. The participation of all 50 states suggests a broad-reaching policy change impacting a substantial portion of the U.S. population covered by Medicaid.
The contractor or entity responsible for developing or managing this model was not provided. Information regarding potential impacts on pharmaceutical manufacturers, healthcare providers, or patient access to medications is also not yet available. The administration has indicated that the model aims to lower net prices, but specific projections or details on how this will be achieved are pending.
Story summarized from the original created by FATIMA HUSSEIN, Associated Press on www.wric.com, see more information here.
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