EasyScienceSeptember 25, 2025

U.S. Push to Narrow Drug Price Gaps with Other Countries

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Key Vocabulary

drug

Meaning: a medicine people take to treat illness
Example: I take a drug for my allergy.

price

Meaning: the amount of money something costs
Example: The price of the pill is high.

deadline

Meaning: the last day or time to do something
Example: The letter gives a deadline for answers.

🎧 Listening

U.S. Push to Narrow Drug Price Gaps with Other Countries

The U.S. government is pushing drug companies to lower medicine prices. President Donald J. Trump sent letters asking companies to match the lowest price in other developed countries.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services set targets under a most-favored-nation (MFN) policy. The letters set a deadline of September 29, 2025. Some experts warn the change may affect access to new medicines in other countries.

73 words

❓ Quiz

Q1. Who sent letters asking companies to match the lowest price?
Q2. What policy is mentioned by name in the article?
Q3. What deadline is in the article?

📖 Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

💬 Discussion

1.

Do you worry about the cost of medicines where you live? How does that affect you?

2.

Have you ever chosen not to buy medicine because it was too expensive? What happened?

3.

What do you think when you hear that a government asks companies to lower prices?