WASHINGTON – The Latest on President Joe Biden's first joint address to Congress (all times local): 5:30 p.m.
The White House says President Joe Biden's speech to Congress will call on lawmakers to lower prescription drug costs by acting this year to empower Medicare to negotiate prices.
A White House official confirmed Biden’s plan on condition of anonymity in advance of the president’s speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night.
Medicare’s prescription drug benefit is delivered through private insurers, and the program is currently barred by law from negotiating prices directly with pharmaceutical companies.