The subcommittee heard testimony from representatives of pharmaceutical companies and consumer groups on the relative prices of medications in the U.S. and other countries. Specifically, the committee sought to determine why many pharmaceuticals cost more in the U.S. than identical pharmaceuticals cost in other countries, and heard testimony on proposals to reduce the U.S. cost of medicine. The subcommittee heard from panels from the General Accounting Office, a panel of consumers and consumer groups, and a panel of officials from the pharmaceutical industry.