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Trump announces all 50 states joining Medicaid drug pricing model
President Trump announced that all 50 U.S. states will participate in a Medicaid drug pricing program applying Most Favored Nation pricing to selected drugs. The White House projects the arrangement will save approximately $64.3 billion in Medicaid costs over ten years, with total savings across all programs estimated at $600 billion. Experts note that limited public disclosure of deal details makes independent verification of savings claims difficult.
Quick Facts
- All 50 U.S. states announced to join Medicaid drug pricing program
- Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing applied to selected drugs
- Pharmaceutical manufacturers provide rebates to state Medicaid programs
- Drug prices aligned with lowest prices in other developed nations
- TrumpRx.gov platform delivers direct-to-consumer discounts

President Donald Trump announced on September 18, 2026, that all 50 U.S. states will participate in a Medicaid drug pricing program applying Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing to selected prescription drugs. Under the model, dubbed "GENEROUS," participating pharmaceutical manufacturers will provide rebates to state Medicaid programs to ensure drug prices do not exceed the lowest prices paid in other developed nations.
The White House projects the arrangement will save approximately $64.3 billion in Medicaid drug costs over the next decade, with $36.6 billion accruing to the federal government and $27.6 billion to state governments. The Council of Economic Advisers has estimated total savings from Trump's MFN deals across all programs at $600 billion over ten years. The program covers hundreds of drugs across major therapeutic classes including oncology, diabetes care, and asthma treatments. Agreements with 26 major pharmaceutical manufacturers, representing 90% of the branded U.S. drug market, are part of the arrangement.
The announcement was made alongside the administration's TrumpRx.gov platform, launched in February 2026, which has reportedly delivered over $700 million in savings to patients on medicines including GLP-1 drugs and fertility treatments. The White House states that 600,000 seniors have accessed GLP-1 medications at $50 per month through the program, saving $216 million in two months.
However, experts and policy observers have raised questions about verification of the claimed savings. The Associated Press reported that few details of the deals struck between the administration and pharmaceutical companies have been made public, making independent verification difficult. Kathy Hempstead of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation told the AP that the lack of granular data creates barriers to legislative action and raises concerns about the longevity of price reductions beyond the current administration's tenure.
Trump stated at the announcement that "every state will have the ability to use those extra billions of dollars to invest in other healthcare improvements or something else." He also noted the initiative addresses cost-of-living concerns ahead of midterm elections. The announcement comes after Trump signed an executive order in May 2025 directing the administration to implement MFN pricing, followed by agreements with leading pharmaceutical manufacturers announced beginning in September 2025.
Why This Matters
All 50 U.S. states will now participate in a federal Medicaid drug pricing program based on Most Favored Nation pricing. The White House projects $64.3 billion in Medicaid savings over ten years ($36.6 billion federal, $27.6 billion state), with 26 major pharmaceutical manufacturers covering 90% of the branded U.S. drug market committed to provide rebates. Agreements with manufacturers and the TrumpRx.gov platform launched in February 2026 have reportedly delivered $700 million in savings to patients; however, limited public disclosure of deal terms prevents independent verification of projected savings, and policy observers note uncertainty about price stability beyond the current administration.
Timeline & Sources
May 12, 2025
WirePresident Trump signed Executive Order titled 'Delivering Most-Favored-Nation Prescription Drug Pricing to American Patients'
Jul 31, 2025
WireTrump administration sent letters to 17 leading pharmaceutical manufacturers outlining steps to match lowest international drug prices
Sep 30, 2025
WirePresident Trump announced first MFN agreement with Pfizer
Dec 1, 2025
WireOffice of U.S. Trade Representative, Department of Commerce, and Department of Health and Human Services announced agreement with United Kingdom
Sep 18, 2026
WirePresident Trump announced all 50 states joining Medicaid GENEROUS drug pricing model
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Sources
- Trump to announce all 50 states joining Medicaid drug pricing modelAP NewsWireSep 18, 2026
- Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Announces Lower Drug Prices for All 50 State Medicaid ProgramswhitehouseMediaSep 18, 2026
- President Trump Extends Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing to Every Medicaid Program in AmericawhitehouseMediaSep 18, 2026