Medicare drug price negotiations that began during the Biden administration continue as President Trump touted his own execution orders to lower drug prices.

Two companies, Novo Nordisk and Amgen, confirmed to NPR that they received government opening prices and began bargaining that could last until October. The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment on the status of the negotiations.

Medicare is negotiating Prices of 15 drugsincluding Novo Nordisk's Ozempic. The government must announce the agreed Medicare price by November 30. The lower prices will come into effect in January 2027.

“It’s a train that moves along the track in the backstage.” Ben Romea physician and health policy researcher at Harvard Medical School. “And it seems that the Trump administration has given the green light to continue the process.”

Medicare drug price negotiations are still relatively new. Until the adoption of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, Medicare Part D covers More than 50 million elderly peopleno right to negotiate the price of drugs. This is the second round of annual bargaining.

"Unless the Trump administration wants to completely ignore Congress' instructions, this process will continue," Rome said.

Last year, the first batch of 10 drugs were negotiated. Announced in August Price reductions range from 79% of the type 2 diabetes drug Januvia to 38% of the cancer drug imbruvica. These drugs are at a low price and are expected to come into effect in January 2026.

Neither Novo Nordisk nor Amgen negotiated the psoriasis and arthritis drug Otezla, and would comment on the negotiation process except confirming that they had received an offer for the opening ceremony.

May 12, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Release a draft guidance For the third round of negotiations to begin in early 2026.

President Trump touts his drug price initiative, including Favorite executive orders for drug pricing in the countrywhich will try to lower the price of drugs in the United States and force other countries to pay more for their drugs. However, details of how it works are not yet known.

Project 2025, a A blueprint for changing the federal government Medicare drug price negotiations “should be abolished” and Trump responded to the Conservative Legacy Foundation in many actions. It could happen that “the governments required to implement it must do so in a prudent manner in which it is authoritative, thereby minimizing the harmful effects of legal policies and avoiding more serious unintended consequences.”