Not much has changed down through the years. To quote Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa -- the rise in spending is "alarming" referring to the sharp rapid increase in the cost of prescription drugs. The big question seems to be how do we stop the drug companies from putting into effect the fast huge increases in prescription drug prices, which are freezing many Americans out of the affordability to pay for them?
Why not use government-mandated price controls such as were used during WWII? All kinds of price gouging was going on at that time from the manufacturers of war weaponry to just about anything one could think of. A presidential order by President Roosevelt created the OPA (Office of Price Administration) and was in effect from early in 1942 until late in 1946. An effort was made to be fair with the realization that business had a need to make at least a reasonable profit. For deliberate violation of Price Control price maximums, penalties were levied.
I can't see why this would not work now -- for drug companies (or anyone else) who refuse to price there merchandise reasonably. I too would not like to see "permanent" price controls in effect.