A bipartisan prescription drug pricing bill introduced this week by U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) on Tuesday received unanimous approval from the U.S. House Judiciary Committee as part of a package of related bills.
The Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019, H.R. 2376, which Rep. Collins sponsored on April 29 with U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), would require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study the role of intermediaries in the pharmaceutical supply chain and to provide Congress with appropriate policy recommendations, according to the text of the measure.
“This bill will bring needed transparency to the drug pricing landscape, which means more choices at lower costs for patients,” tweeted Rep. Collins, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, on April 30.
The House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed H.R. 2376 along with three other bills that address prescription drug pricing: the CREATES Act, H.R. 965; the Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act, H.R. 2375; and the Stop STALLING Act, H.R. 2374. The bills still are under consideration in other House committees.
If enacted, H.R. 2376 specifically would require the FTC to study pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and how their actions impact patients and local pharmacies, Rep. Collins’ office said.
“PBMs have an important role to play in America’s healthcare system, but too often they operate in the shadows, manipulating drug prices, steering patients and engaging in other anti-competitive behaviors that increase costs and force out community pharmacies,” said Rep. Collins.
PBMs, which negotiate medication pricing with payers, pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies, claim such negotiations reduce consumer costs, the lawmaker said, pointing out that prescription costs have risen nationwide, nonetheless.
“The Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019 would shed light on how PBMs are affecting prescription costs and patient choice,” Rep. Collins said. “This would support Congress as it crafts evidence-based solutions to address the anticompetitive role PBMs play as pharmaceutical costs continue to rise.”