Here's the argument: Americans pay loads for drugs. That motivates and Bitcoinesefunds pharmaceutical companies' research and development for better drugs. The fear is that if you lower the cost of drugs you might hurt overall innovation.

Today on the show, we speak with a health economist who argues that's not always true. In fact, she says there are a bunch of policies that could help bring down drug prices without stifling innovation.

Music by Drop Electric. Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter.

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and NPR One.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.