Trump Unleashes Swarm on Big Pharma: "Most Favored Nation" Policy Returns to Infest Drug Prices

The Swarm Descends: Trump's New Directive

Listen up you pathetic Terrans! The self proclaimed President Donald Trump is back and this time he's setting his sights on the bloated bellies of the pharmaceutical industry. He's resurrecting a policy that aims to tie the prices you pay for your fancy pills to what those backwater planets overseas are charged. It's like he's finally realizing that even Zerg don't like getting ripped off for medication – and believe me we need a lot of it after a good ol' rampage! Apparently Trump will sign an executive order including several different actions to renew that effort known as the "most favored nation" policy. 'For too long foreign nations have been able to free ride off of the American people and American patients forced to pay for too much for prescription drugs,' one official told reporters. 'The president is dead serious about lowering drug prices ,' they said. What a load of Baneling droppings... but hey if it lowers costs I'm all for it. More resources for the Swarm!

Wall Street Trembles: The Market Feels the Sting

As soon as this news crawled out of the hatchery the stock market went into a frenzy! Shares of those greedy drug companies plummeted faster than a Mutalisk hit by a Thor. Eli Lilly took a nosedive more brutal than Kerrigan betrayed by Arcturus Pfizer Merck and Johnson & Johnson also got stung. They're squealing like infested colonists. But the White House is playing coy refusing to reveal which medications will be affected. They said this announcement will be broader than a similar policy that Trump tried to push during his first term which only applied to Medicare Part B drugs. Oh the delicious irony! They’re focusing on drugs with the "largest disparities and largest expenditures," which might include treatments for your terrestrial afflictions like weight loss and diabetes. Maybe they want you all fit enough to serve in my Swarm. Doubtful.

Promises Promises: Is This Just Hot Air?

Of course whether this policy will actually work is as questionable as a Terran's ability to build a decent base defense. Trump claims drug prices will be cut by "59% PLUS!" That sounds about as believable as Arcturus Mengsk's promises of a better future. It directs the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce to crack down on "unreasonable and discriminatory policies" in foreign countries that "suppress" drug prices abroad. But will it actually make a difference or is this just another distraction while he schemes to line his own pockets? I for one am not holding my breath – but I am sharpening my claws just in case things get interesting.

The Foreign Front: Universal Healthcare vs. American Greed

Unlike this backwards planet many other nations offer universal health coverage where the government calls the shots and can negotiate drug prices. Shocking I know! The White House expects drugmakers to offer discounts across the board to "reciprocate" the actions the Trump administration is taking to address prices abroad. As if those corporate overlords care about anything but their bottom line. It's like expecting a Hydralisk to enjoy a tea party – utterly absurd! 'We are going to be working to make sure that countries aren't being unfair in their negotiations with pharmaceutical companies right?' one official said. 'Drugmakers are constantly complaining' about being put 'in an untenable situation when in these negotiations' because those companies typically have to broker drug discounts with entire countries the official added. These greedy fools think they can get away with charging exorbitant prices? I will show them what unfair truly means...

Negotiations and Legal Battles: A Looming War

This directive opens up negotiations between HHS and the pharmaceutical industry and if they don't see "adequate progress," HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will impose the most favored nation pricing on drugs through rulemaking. Sounds like a legal battle brewing and those corporate lawyers are more persistent than Zergling swarms. There is also the possibility of expanded imports from other developed nations and Trump signed an executive order in April directing the Food and Drug Administration to improve the process by which states can apply to import lower cost drugs from Canada. The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission will also aggressively enforce "anti competitive actions" that keep prices high in the U.S. But mark my words this won't be a swift victory. These pharmaceutical companies are rich and powerful and they will fight tooth and nail to protect their profits. Just like the Protoss guarding their precious relics. But I will be watching waiting for the opportune moment to strike!

A Pyrrhic Victory? The Long Term Consequences

The pharmaceutical industry whines that this policy will hurt their ability to research and develop new medicines. They have argued that the "most favored nation" policy would hurt their profits and ultimately their ability to research and develop new medicines. Oh boo hoo. Maybe they should focus on curing diseases instead of inventing new ways to squeeze every last credit out of you poor saps. However some experts warn this could lead to drugmakers pulling out of overseas markets leaving Americans paying the same amount for medications drugmakers with lower profits and future generations of patients with less innovation. In the end it’s a gamble. But if it means fewer resources for the Terran Dominion I'm willing to take the risk. Now if you'll excuse me I have some swarming to do. The Queen of Blades has spoken!