Why Are Americans Paying 3x More for Meds?

In this interview, Dr. Evan Nadler, a pediatric surgeon and public health advocate, explores why Americans pay three times more for prescription drugs than people in other developed nations.

He breaks down how the U.S. system enables inflated prices, the influence of Big Pharma, and why proposed reforms like “Most Favored Nation” pricing are more complex than they seem.

Dr. Nadler shares his insights on how reducing prescription costs, through mechanisms like Costco’s pharmacy pricing, could directly impact personal finances for millions of Americans. He explains why the issue goes far beyond price tags and how structural change is the only real path forward.

The conversation also shifts to a hot-button food policy decision: eliminating sugary drinks and candy from the SNAP (food stamps) program. While he supports the move, Dr. Nadler argues it only solves half the problem, access to affordable, healthy food still lags behind.

With decades of experience in healthcare and public health policy, Dr. Nadler offers a grounded, inside look at the real levers of change, and what needs to happen next.

Watch the full interview below.