Democratic Lawmakers Introduce Bills To Slash Prescription Drug Costs

Democratic lawmakers made moves on lowering prescription drug prices Thursday. 

Sen. Bernie Sanders, along with other congressional leaders, introduced bills that aim to cut prescription drug costs. 

The proposals would allow cheaper drugs to be imported from certain countries, let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices and remodel U.S. drug costs to better align with other similar countries. 

Democrats had been waiting to regain control of the House before moving forward on legislation to curb prescription costs, one of their priorities. 

But even if the bills make it through the House, they're unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled Senate. 

On Wednesday, Senate Finance Committee chair Sen. Chuck Grassley said he'd squash the Medicare negotiations proposal in favor of working on different bipartisan drug pricing initiatives. 

So far this year, several pharmaceutical companies have either confirmed or are planning price hikes in 2019, despite pressure from the White House to slash costs for consumers. 

Last year, the Trump administration unveiled its plans to rework the U.S. drug pricing system. 

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.