House advances Carter bill addressing prescription drug costs

The U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 28 advanced a bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) that would improve transparency in the drug supply chain and address the rising cost of prescription drug prices. 

The Payment Commission Data Act of 2019, H.R. 1781, allows certain payment information relating to covered drugs under the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicaid to be disclosed to additional entities. 

“It makes no sense that the experts tasked with presenting Congress with recommendations on how to better address the important task of lowering prescription drug prices do not have access to the data they need,” Rep. Carter said. 

Currently, Congress’ independent advisory commissions, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), do not have access to certain drug pricing data. Information, such as subsidy and drug rebates reported by drug plan sponsors and drug manufacturers, is needed by MedPAC and MACPAC in order to make appropriate recommendations to Congress on how to lower prescription drug prices and improve the Medicare and Medicaid programs, according to Rep. Carter’s office. 

“This legislation will give them access to what is needed to be sure they can provide the best possible recommendations,” the congressman said, adding that the measure would bring more clarity to the drug pricing system. 

In addition to H.R. 1781, the House also approved the Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts and Real-Time Beneficiary Drug Cost Act, H.R. 2115. The bill includes language championed by Rep. Carter to require Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) to report data to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on negotiated rebates and discounts, various fees, and price concessions, among other information. 

“This bill will help to shed light on the practices of the PBMs to help ensure the drug supply chain is working for patients and not the other way around,” Rep. Carter said.