Posted on Friday, April 18, 2025
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by AMAC Action
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The Association of Mature American Citizens applauds President Donald Trump for signing a landmark executive order delivering on his campaign promise of lowering drug prices by putting the interests of everyday Americans, and American seniors in particular, first. AMAC members and their families stand to reap major savings from this order.
This bold and sweeping action reaffirms President Trump’s longstanding commitment to lowering prescription drug prices, expanding patient choice, and ensuring America’s seniors are no longer forced to pay more for the same medicines than people in other countries.
The executive order, titled Lowering Drug Prices and Putting America’s Seniors First, outlines a comprehensive policy to make prescription drugs more affordable, especially for those enrolled in Medicare. As President Trump states in the order, “It is time to restore the progress our Nation made in my first term to deliver lower prescription drug prices by putting Americans first and making America healthy again.”
The order directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program to enhance transparency and prioritize drugs with the highest cost burden to the program. It also calls for aligning Medicare payments with the actual acquisition costs of drugs—prices that are often 35 percent lower than what the government currently pays. By standardizing payments for prescription drugs across care settings, prices could drop by as much as 60 percent.
“This executive order is a big win for America’s seniors,” said Andy Mangione, AMAC Action Senior Vice President. “President Trump has once again proven that he puts patients first. This initiative will bring immediate relief to seniors struggling with the high cost of medications and restore accountability and fairness in the prescription drug market.”
In addition to improving Medicare affordability, the order delivers massive discounts for low-income and uninsured Americans. Under the new plan, insulin could cost as little as three cents per dose, and injectable epinephrine will be made available for just $15. These life-saving medications are essential for millions of Americans, and the cost reductions are a testament to President Trump’s leadership in healthcare reform.
The order also reignites competition and transparency in the prescription drug marketplace. It increases the availability of generics and biosimilars—often up to 80 percent cheaper than brand-name alternatives—and calls for accelerating the approval process for these low-cost options. It challenges the dominance of middlemen by improving fee disclosure among pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), an initiative AMAC Action has been a leader on, and initiating reforms to build a more efficient and competitive pharmaceutical value chain.
Importantly, the order authorizes expanded drug importation programs to help states negotiate better deals and reduce overall drug spending. This builds upon previous efforts launched during President Trump’s first term, including programs that helped states secure significant discounts on high-cost medications such as those used to treat sickle cell disease.
The contrast with the previous administration’s policies is stark. While the Biden administration’s so-called Inflation Reduction Act promised savings, it delivered far less than projected, while also triggering higher Medicare premiums and fewer plan choices for seniors. President Trump’s executive order corrects course, ending the so-called “pill penalty” that punished lower-cost treatments and shifting incentives back toward affordable, accessible drugs.
President Trump’s decisive action is one more step toward a healthcare system that prioritizes the needs of patients—not profit margins, bureaucracy, or special interests. With this executive order, American seniors can be confident that their needs are being placed front and center.
AMAC stands firmly behind President Trump’s commitment to lowering drug costs and commends this move toward making prescription drugs more affordable for millions of seniors nationwide.
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