Sanders clashes with Trump FDA pick Overton over universal healthcare
Bernie Sanders pressed Trump's FDA nominee to endorse healthcare as a human right; she declined to answer directly.
What to know
- Trump's FDA nominee Dr. Heidi Overton repeatedly declined to affirm that healthcare is a human right, instead offering general statements about access to care.
- Sanders challenged Overton on the contrast between the U.S. healthcare system and universal coverage in neighboring Canada and other major countries.
- A dispute emerged over credit for recent prescription drug price reductions, with Sanders attributing them to prior Democratic legislation rather than Trump administration policies.
Dr. Heidi Overton Trump FDA commissioner nominee
Bernie Sanders Vermont Independent senator, ranking member of Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions CommitteeDr. Marty Makary Previous FDA commissioner
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articles
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Sanders attributes drug price decline to prior Democratic legislation
Sanders countered that the prescription drug price decline may be attributable to legislation passed several years prior, not Trump administration policies.
“Yeah, which may have something to do with the legislation that we passed several years ago.”
— Bernie Sanders -
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Overton defends Trump administration drug pricing claims — Overton cited statistics showing 89% of branded drugs are covered by price-lowering agreements and said that most-favored nation policies have dropped prices, with CPI data showing prescription drug prices down 3% for the first time in 60 years. Sanders disputed the cause of the decline.
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Sanders contrasts U.S. healthcare system with Canada's universal coverage — Sanders pointed to Canada's universal healthcare system, noting he lives 50 miles from the Canadian border. He argued the U.S. is the only major country not to guarantee healthcare and that thousands die from lack of access and affordability.
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Sanders presses Overton on universal healthcare during FDA confirmation hearing — Sen. Bernie Sanders repeatedly asked Dr. Heidi Overton, Trump's FDA commissioner nominee, whether she believes healthcare is a human right available to every American. Overton declined to give a yes-or-no answer, instead stating that access to healthcare is important and that she looks forward to carrying out FDA responsibilities vested by Congress.