Table 4 Proposed legislation

An Act to promote transparency and cost control of pharmaceutical drug prices (Massachusetts)^a

Would require the development of a list of critical prescription drugs of substantial public interest. For each drug listed, manufacturers would report economic expenditures from research and development to marketing and advertising. This data would then be compiled into a report that would inform the public on prescription drug prices and their role in overall health care spending in the commonwealth. Report could include recommendations for actions to lower prescription drug costs and spending across the commonwealth while maintaining access to quality health care.

2015

Improving Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs Act (Franken Klobuchar Bill)^b

Expands reporting requirements for drug manufacturers and establishes corresponding civil penalties for noncompliance. Adds reporting requirements for certain nonprofit patient-assistance programs. Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress on the impact of patient-assistance programs on prescription-drug pricing and expenditures. Requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to negotiate prices for certain prescription drugs under the Medicare program. Requires Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test specified models for negotiating drug prices. Establishes an excise tax on prescription drugs subject to price spikes. Lessens prescription-drug cost sharing requirements under qualified health plans, group health plans, and the Medicare program. Requires drug manufacturers to provide drug rebates for drugs dispensed to certain low-income individuals under the Medicare program.

2017

Prescription Drug and Health Improvement Act of 2017 (Franken Reed Brown Gillibrand)^c

Would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower covered part D drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries.

2017

Fair Accountability and Innovative Research Drug Pricing Act of 2017 (McCain Baldwin Price Bill)^d

Would require reporting on the justification for drug price increases and for other purposes.

2017

An act relative to prescription drugs (Vermont)^e

In an attempt to increase transparency, typically the first step towards cost containment, this bill would require The Green Mountain Care Board, in collaboration with the Department of Vermont Health Access, to identify annually up to 15 prescription drugs on which the State spends significant health care dollars and for which the wholesale acquisition cost has increased by 50 percent or more over the past five years or by 15 percent or more over the past 12 months. For each drug identified, the Office of the Attorney General shall require the manufacturer to provide justification for the increase in the wholesale acquisition cost increase.

2016

Pharmaceutical Cost Transparency Act of 2016 (California)^f

This bill would require each manufacturer of a prescription drug made available in California that has a wholesale acquisition costs of $10,000 or more annually or per course of treatment to file a report, no later than May 1 of each year, with the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development on the costs of each qualifying drug.

2015

An act to require manufacturers of pharmaceutical drugs to report cost and utilization information (North Carolina)^g

Would require an annual report of drug costs and use that can be used by policymakers, government agencies and others to understand pharmacy cost trend in an attempt to make information available to the public about the cost and utilization of pharmaceutical drugs made available in North Carolina.

2015