Bill Summary
The "Plain Prescription Prices Act" is a proposed legislation that aims to enhance transparency in direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription drugs and biological products. Under this Act, within one year of its enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, is required to establish regulations mandating that all television advertisements for these products clearly state the list price for a typical 30-day treatment regimen. This price must be truthful and not misleading.
The regulations will also address whether similar requirements should apply to other advertising formats, dictate the presentation style of the price information, establish enforcement mechanisms, and consider the inclusion of additional pricing details as necessary. The overall goal of the legislation is to provide consumers with clear and accurate pricing information to make informed choices about their healthcare.
Possible Impacts
The "Plain Prescription Prices Act" could affect people in several significant ways:
1. **Increased Transparency in Pricing**: By requiring direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs to include truthful pricing information, consumers will have access to clear and accurate information about the costs of medications. This transparency can help individuals make more informed choices regarding their healthcare, enabling them to compare prices easily and potentially choose less expensive options.
2. **Impact on Medication Adherence**: Knowing the list price of a medication may influence patients' decisions to fill prescriptions. If they are aware of the costs upfront, they may be more likely to discuss pricing options with their healthcare providers or explore alternatives, such as generics or different treatments. This could lead to higher medication adherence rates if patients can find affordable options that suit their needs.
3. **Market Competition and Pricing Pressure**: The requirement for transparent pricing in advertisements may create competitive pressure among pharmaceutical companies. As consumers become more informed and price-sensitive, manufacturers may be incentivized to lower their prices or improve the value of their offerings to attract customers. This could ultimately lead to reduced drug prices in the market over time, benefiting consumers financially.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4623 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4623
To require direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs and
biological products to include truthful and not misleading pricing
information.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 22, 2025
Ms. Williams of Georgia (for herself, Mr. Bacon, Ms. Craig, and Mr.
Steil) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on
Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs and
biological products to include truthful and not misleading pricing
information.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Plain Prescription Prices Act''.
SEC. 2. REGULATING ADVERTISEMENTS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND BIOLOGICAL
PRODUCT PRICES.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (referred to in this section as the ``Administrator''), shall
promulgate regulations requiring each direct-to-consumer advertisement
on television (including broadcast, cable, streaming, and satellite
television) for a prescription drug or biological product for which
payment is available under title XVIII or XIX of the Social Security
Act to include a textual statement, which shall be truthful and not
misleading, indicating the list price, as determined on the first day
of the quarter during which the advertisement is being aired or
otherwise broadcast, for a typical 30-day regimen or typical course of
treatment (whichever is most appropriate).
(b) Determinations.--In promulgating regulations under subsection
(a), the Administrator shall determine--
(1) whether such regulations should apply with respect to
additional forms of advertising;
(2) the manner and format of textual statements described
in such subsection;
(3) appropriate enforcement mechanisms; and
(4) whether such textual statements should include any
other price information, as appropriate.
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