Senate Passes Amendment Requiring Drug Prices in Advertisements

The Senate passed an amendment to require drugmakers to list prescription drug prices in direct-to-consumer ads in an effort to promote lower prices through increased transparency.

The bipartisan measure, part of an HHS funding bill the House is expected to consider after Labor Day, gives HHS $1 million to establish rules requiring drug companies to display the prices of their prescription drugs in DTC advertisements.

“Bringing transparency to drug pricing and educating the public about the cost of their prescriptions is common sense. We’re building on what the pharmaceutical industry is already doing,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who sponsored the measure.