Bills to promote access to drug price, rebate data advance in House

The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee today approved legislation that would prohibit Medicare and private health plans from restricting a pharmacist’s ability to inform enrollees when a drug would cost less without using their insurance. Some health insurance contracts prevent pharmacists from informing patients when the cash price for their prescription costs less than their insurance cost-sharing arrangement unless the individual asks. The subcommittee also approved a bill that would allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide certain drug rebate information to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment Advisory Commission to inform their recommendations on drug-related issues.